PSG vs Montpellier Prediction: Goals galore in the capital?

After an inauspicious start to life under Luis Enrique PSG are really starting to kick into gear under the Spaniard, an ominous sign for Montpellier as they travel to Paris for Ligue 1’s Friday night fixture.

Enrique’s side have now chalked up four consecutive victories – three of which have come in the league – to make their customary early-season charge for the title.

The same can’t be said for Montpellier whose more modest budget has them currently sat mid-table, an area the club has come to know well in recent seasons.

Team News

Enrique may be tempted into a few changes with a huge Champions League tie in Milan on Tuesday but expect Kylian Mbappe to play until a positive result is assured. The French star could be joined in the starting XI by PSG captain Marquinhos, who missed the win over Brest last weekend through injury.

Nuno Mendes, Presnel Kimpembe and Marco Asensio headline a list of longer-term absentees but the squad remains stacked with star-studded names with Ousmane Dembele, Randal Kolo Muani and Manuel Ugarte all on the bench last time out.

Perhaps the most interesting team news lies with Montpellier following the recent suspension of Mamadou Sakho for a bust-up with manager Michel Der Zakarien. Sakho has since returned to training with Der Zakarien playing down the incident, but the veteran defender has been a periphery figure for La Paillade this season.

A more integral member of the squad is Arnaud Nordin but he has missed the last four games through injury and the forward is expected to sit out once again, while midfielder Joris Chotard looks set to be fit despite being substituted last weekend with a muscular issue.

Match Odds

PSG are 1/4 to win this match and a draw can be backed at 5/1. Montpellier are 9/1 to spring a surprise and win.

Over 3.5 goals @ 10/11

If there’s one thing this fixture has taught us in the last few years it’s to expect goals, goals, goals. Only once in the last 12 matches between PSG and Montpellier has there been fewer than four goals, and last season’s game in the French capital produced a whopping seven.

With three of the sharpest shooters in the league on display – Mbappe and Montpellier’s double act of Akor Adams and Mousa Al-Tamara – goals should be on the menu once again, particularly if the Parisians decide to rotate in defence.

PSG gave up two goals in their last game and have also conceded multiple goals against Newcastle and Nice.

Meanwhile, Montpellier have performed admirably on the road this season, picking up seven points from five games. Plus, only Monaco (12) and PSG (11) have bettered their goal tally of nine away from home.

Kylian Mbappe to score 2+ @ 11/5

As a relative Steady Eddie in France, Montpellier have been forced to endure the wrath of Mbappe's boots more than most.

Mbappe has scored 12 goals in 13 games against Montpellier, including a couple of braces for Les Parisiens. It seems the 24-year-old has a penchant for the double having scored twice in a game on four occasions in Ligue 1 this season, including a couple in last weekend’s win over Brest.

Montpellier themselves have twice fallen victim to an Mbappe double, and Enrique will be desperate for his main man to repeat the trick again early on as he looks to manage minutes ahead of Tuesday.

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