FC Nantes vs Montpellier HSC Best odds and tips

FC Nantes are in a precarious 15th position in Ligue 1 2024-2025 with just 33 points from 33 games, but they have the home advantage when they face struggling Montpellier HSC on Saturday. The Canaries are winless in their last five games (D3, L2) and need to get back to winning ways to avoid being dragged into the relegation dogfight. Antoine Kombouare took over as manager in March 2024 and has had to adapt his game plan to make Nantes a more solid side, as they have been leaky at the back for much of the campaign. Kombouare has done a decent job of steadying the ship, but the Canaries are still conceding an average of 1.12 goals per game at home in Ligue 1 2024-2025 and have only managed to score an average of 1.00 goals per game. The Canaries are a patient, structured side that like to build from the back and play through the wings, rather than pressing and chasing the ball. Pedro Chirivella is the metronome of the team and dictates the tempo from the centre of the park, while Matthis Abline is the danger man up top with eight goals in 33 Ligue 1 appearances.

Montpellier HSC are in deep trouble in 18th position with just 16 points from 33 Ligue 1 games and have lost 15 of their 16 Ligue 1 away fixtures (W1, D0, L15). Zoumana Camara has had the unenviable task of trying to turn around their fortunes since taking over in April 2025 and has had to adopt a reactive, defensive system to try and stem the tide. Camara’s men have been plagued by individual errors and a -50 goal difference in Ligue 1 2024/2025, so it’s hard to see how they can turn things around on Saturday. Joris Chotard is the glue that holds the midfield together and is often left to clear the mess up, while Arnaud Nordin is the most dangerous player with four goals in 16 appearances, although he has been poorly served at times.

This is a relegation six-pointer with genuine implications for both sides as they fight for survival in the Ligue 1 run-in. Nantes have been in poor form of late, but Montpellier are in outright poor form and their away record is catastrophic. Nantes have won four, drawn six and lost six of their 16 home league fixtures this season, which is a mixed bag, but Montpellier have lost 15 of their last 16 Ligue 1 away fixtures (W1, D0, L15), so the odds of 1.57 for the hosts are very attractive. A bet on under 2.5 goals could also appeal, as both sides have been struggling to find the net of late. Nantes have scored an average of 1.0 goals while Montpellier have averaged 1.5 goals per visit in the last five head-to-heads at the Beaujoire, so a 1-0 home win could be a decent score prediction.