Two relegation-threatened sides will face off when Montpellier HSC play host to Le Havre in Sunday's Ligue 1 encounter.
The home side are languishing at the foot of the Ligue 1 table, while the visitors are currently sitting in the relegation playoff spot.
Match preview
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Montpellier's 16-year stay in the top flight appears to be drawing to a close, having mustered just 15 points from 26 league matches this season.
They have lost each of their last eight league games since beating Toulouse 2-1 on January 26, including a 2-0 defeat to Saint-Etienne before the international break, which was abandoned shortly before the hour mark due to crowd trouble.
The Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) has since confirmed that they have awarded the victory to Saint-Etienne, providing the latest miserable chapter in a forgettable season for Montpellier.
They experienced more disappointment in last Sunday's 1-0 away defeat against Auxerre, meaning that they have now drawn a blank in seven of their previous eight matches, including each of their last five.
With just seven games left to play, Jean-Louis Gasset's side are nine points adrift of Le Havre and 11 points away from safety altogether.
They may at least fancy their chances of taking something from Sunday's fixture, given the fact that they have never lost a competitive home game against Le Havre.
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The visitors have won seven, drawn three and lost 17 of their 27 league matches this season, leaving them in the relegation playoff place and two points adrift of safety with seven games left to play.
While their form has been inconsistent, they have been involved in a number of exciting encounters in recent times, having seen four of their last five matches produce at least five goals (W2, D1, L2).
After falling to a heavy 4-1 defeat to Toulouse, Le Havre came from behind on two occasions to clinch a dramatic 4-3 away win over Lens, before they went on to play out a 1-1 draw with relegation rivals Saint-Etienne.
They went into the international break with a 4-2 defeat to Lyon, before they returned to action with a narrow victory in a five-goal thriller against Nantes, seeing their lead cut out on two occasions before substitute Timothee Pembele scored an 88th-minute winner to seal all three points.
Incidentally, that 3-2 win gave Didier Digard's side their first home Ligue 1 win since beating Montpellier 1-0 in November's reverse fixture, meaning that the visitors have the chance to complete a league double on Sunday.
The first goal could be crucial if Le Havre are to pick up a positive result, considering the fact that they have won three and drawn one of their four away league games where they have opened the scoring this season.
Team News
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The hosts are expected to be without Nikola Maksimovic, Becir Omeragic, Enzo Tchato, Stefan Dzodic, Christopher Jullien, Axel Gueguin, Yanis Issoufou and Glenn Ngosso.
In positive news, Kiki Kouyate and Theo Sainte-Luce are set to return to the backline after being suspended for the defeat to Auxerre due to yellow card accumulation.
Forward Andy Delort dropped down to the bench last weekend, but he could return to the side to lead the line against Le Havre.
As for the visitors, they may be unable to call upon Fode Ballo-Toure, Daren Mosengo, Yann Kitala and Andy Logbo due to injury.
Goalkeeper Mathieu Gorgelin is a doubt after he missed out last weekend with a muscle problem, while Yanis Zouaoui is at risk of missing a third straight game with a calf issue.
Captain Arouna Sangante will have to be assessed after he was forced just after the hour mark against Nantes in his first game back from a four-match injury absence.
Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Lecomte; Sacko, Kouyate, Sagnan, Saint-Luce; Ferri, Chotard; Maamma, Savanier, Coulibaly; Delort
Le Havre possible starting lineup:
Desmas; Nego, Kinkoue, Lloris, Pembele; Toure, Mwanga; Casimir, Kechta, Soumare; Ayew
We say: Montpellier HSC 1-3 Le Havre
Like Le Havre's recent matches, we think that Sunday's contest will produce goals to interest the neutral viewer, and after winning two of their previous three away games, we believe that the visitors will do enough to condemn Montpellier to a ninth consecutive defeat.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
