Prediction: PSG vs Montpellier

Verdict: PSG win

Best Odds: 4/11

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Simply looking to make another Ligue 1 statement on Friday night, PSG will welcome Montpellier to the Parc des Princes.

PSG

Starting with the hosts, while PSG might have once again fallen short last season as they missed out on a maiden Champions League crown, the French giants made even more domestic history. Storming their way to a 12th Ligue 1 title and not really having to get out of third gear, Luis Enrique’s men are already pencilled in as a landslide contender this time around. Getting the 2024/25 campaign underway last week with a routine 4-1 romp away at Le Havre, the former Barcelona boss will be calling on his superstar squad to make another statement here. However, although the defending champions might be relishing a return to the French capital on Friday night, Enrique’s side will be hoping to find some defensive resolve. In fact, continuing on from their pre-season preparations, PSG have recorded just a single clean sheet from any of their previous 15 appearances across all competitions.

Team News

Still dealing with a long-term knee injury, PSG will once again be without French international defender Lucas Hernandez on Friday night. However, despite missing out away at Le Havre last week through a one-match suspension, former Sporting Lisbon star Nuno Mendes will return to Enrique’s squad here.

All coming off the bench and getting on the scoresheet in Normandy last week, the trio of Ousmane Dembele, Bradley Barcola and Randal Kolo Muani could be handed full recalls. Arriving from Benfica this summer for a reported fee in the region of £50million, 19-year-old Joao Neves should make his full PSG debut at the Parc des Princes.

Montpellier

As for the visitors, eventually falling short last season in the race to clinch a top-half finish among France’s elite, Montpellier are hoping to find some stability this time around. Missing out on what they had billed as a potential opportunity last weekend as they opened the 2024/25 campaign with a 1-1 stalemate at home against Strasbourg, Michel Der Zakarian’s men will be bracing themselves for a monumental challenge on Friday night. Signing off their pre-season preparations with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Bundesliga outfit Mainz, Montpellier will be concerned by a nightmare record against the defending French champions. Including an action-packed 6-2 loss when they welcomed PSG to the Stade de la Mosson back on March 17th, they have lost all of their previous six meetings by an aggregate score of 23-5.

Team News

Both still dealing with respective injury issues, Montpellier will travel to Paris on Friday night without the duo of Christopher Jullien and academy graduate Axel Gueguin. However, serving a one-match suspension against Strasbourg last weekend, one-time Sunderland striker Wahbi Khazri will return to Zakarian’s squad.

Opening his Ligue 1 account last week and claiming Montpellier’s Golden Boot last season after recording nine top-flight goals, former Nimes star Teji Savanier will play a leading role here. Arriving from Utrecht earlier in the year, Modibo Sagnan will partner Becir Omeragic at the heart of Zakarian’s defence.

Key Factors to Consider

• When PSG and Montpellier last met back on March 17th, the defending champions collected a 6-2 victory at the Stade de la Mosson.
• PSG have won all of their previous six meetings against Friday’s guests by an aggregate score of 23-5.
• However, continuing on from their summer preparations, Enrique’s men have recorded just a sole clean sheet from any of their previous 15 appearances across all competitions.
• Montpellier have lost all of their previous eight trips to the French capital – a run that stems all the way back to March 2016.
• 13 of the last 14 showdowns between PSG and Montpellier have finished with over 2.5 goals.

Conclusion

Getting proceedings underway last weekend with a 4-1 romp away at Le Havre, PSG will be looking to make another statement here. Landing an action-packed 6-2 victory when the travelled to the Stade de la Mosson back on March 17th, they will be excited by a rampant record against Montpellier. Winning their previous six meetings by a remarkable aggregate score of 23-5, we are expecting what should be another enjoyable home win in the French capital.

Verdict: PSG win

Best Odds: 4/11

Bookmaker: Dachbet