Auxerre vs Montpellier

Montpellier HSC will make the trip to Auxerre this weekend in Ligue 1, hoping to secure their first victory in over two months.

The struggling visitors have endured a miserable run, suffering six consecutive league defeats. Their most recent fixture against Saint-Etienne was abandoned due to crowd disturbances, adding to their woes.

During that chaotic match at Stade de la Mosson, home supporters threw flares onto the pitch, and a section of the stands caught fire. At the time of the abandonment, Montpellier were trailing 2-0—a result that, if upheld, would have seen Saint-Etienne move eight points ahead of them in the standings.

It remains uncertain what consequences Montpellier will face for the incident. However, sitting at the bottom of the table, they already seem destined for relegation to Ligue 2.

The situation worsened when head coach Jean-Louis Gasset offered to resign following the abandoned match. The club’s board rejected his request, though he is still widely expected to leave at the end of the season. There are even suggestions that he could have a role in selecting his successor. Gasset took charge earlier in the campaign, replacing Michel Der Zakarian, but now appears set to remain in his position until the season concludes.

Currently, Montpellier are six points behind the relegation playoff spot. If Saint-Etienne are eventually awarded the three points from their unfinished fixture, that gap could grow even wider, making their survival hopes even slimmer.

Gasset himself has expressed doubt about his team’s ability to avoid relegation, stating that Montpellier has "no hope" of staying in the top flight.

Their performances at both ends of the pitch have been a major concern throughout the season. Defensively, they have conceded 59 goals in 25 completed matches—the worst record in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, their attack has been equally ineffective, managing just 21 goals, making them the lowest-scoring side in the division.

Heading into this weekend's clash, Montpellier face a daunting challenge against an Auxerre side that has been formidable at home, losing just twice in league play this season.

Montpellier’s poor away form offers little cause for optimism. They have collected only three points on their travels all season, with their lone away win—a 2-1 victory at Toulouse—coming back on January 26.

After earning promotion from Ligue 2 last year, Auxerre were among the top candidates for relegation this campaign. However, with just eight matches left, they sit comfortably 11 points above the drop zone.

Their strong home performances have been key to their survival, as they’ve picked up the majority of their points at their own ground—only nine have come from away fixtures.

Auxerre’s recent upturn in form has also played a crucial role, with just one loss in their last six league games.

This weekend, they’ll be eager to avenge their earlier 3-2 defeat to Montpellier in September. Back then, a double from Akor Adams sealed the win for La Paillade—one of only four victories they’ve managed all season.