Valenciennes - Montpellier
2.10 - 3.10 - 3.75
VA usually are good at their home ground but after a poor start early in the season, they've now put together a successive wins in 2 home games. Surprisingly, where they used to fail in travels (Twice at bottom of the table in away form), they're topping the league in Away table. Coming off impressive 3rd successive win against Rennes where in those 3 wins they managed to keep clean sheet while putting 7 times ball behind opposition goal. Mamadou Samassa, Johan audel and Rafael Schmit all remain injured while David Ducourtious returns. The good thing about this team is, whenever I watch them, I find them to be always a TEAM- everyone fighting for everything and everyone.
The surprise package of France, the promoted team from Montpellier sits in 4th position defying the many belief's of strong relegation candidate with the record of 6-2-3. In the current standing of French league, Montpellier played 4 games against upper half of the current table and failed to register win with 0-2-2. In remaining 7 games, they came up 4 times with opposition who're currently on last 5 and triumphed on all(4-0-0). All credit for their wins against Sochaux(H) and Nice(A) but lost heavily against team that's currently dividing the table, Rennes(11th). Today they'll be without Nenad Dzodic and Alberto Costa.
My point on above stats is Montpellier's current position probably could be false as they've came up against sides who were poor/in recovery and took full advantage with maximum points while with stronger opposition(teams from upper half) struggled. Now that they've almost played against teams that were on other end of the table, they'll be facing teams on upper side/close to them and home team today VA is just that- close with just 1 points behind them. VA themselves are not exactly a powerful team of france football, but in current table they've got FORM.
Somewhere Montpellier will start dropping points and by the end of the season, they'll definitely not be in current position. Now that they've lost 2 games in succession and confidence surely have been hit. Theri coach trying hard to console players
quote:
"It's true we're going through a delicate period,'' he said. "But we have to be aware we're facing in-form teams away from home.
...To lose two away matches is a pity, but we're not playing for the title, nor the Champions League.
Valenciennes are currently in red-hot form keeping tight in the back and breaking away the tradition of poor AWAY team. What they just need is to keep their home form as strong as 2 seasons ago. Both teams with important missings but Montpellier are hardest hit.
Sadly for Away team, they've again came up against in-form team away from home.
HW@2.10
stake: Medium-high
