As Montpellier host Rennes at the Stade de la Mosson on 2 March 2025 at 16:15, all eyes will be on this crucial Ligue 1 tie. Montpellier, currently languishing at the bottom of the table in 18th place with 15 points, desperately need to turn their form around, having lost their last four matches. On the other hand, Rennes dominate the mid-table spot in 13th place with 26 points and come into this match with a decent run of form.

Referee Florent Batta, who has awarded five penalties in his last eight games, will oversee the action. Montpellier’s top scorer, Arnaud Nordin, will be looking to increase his tally of four goals, while Rennes will heavily rely on Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga, who has netted ten goals so far.

Our prediction leans towards Rennes securing a victory, with betting tips suggesting a Rennes win at odds between 2.14-2.18. Rennes are in better form with three wins in their last five games, while Montpellier have struggled with only one win.

With injury-hit squads and Montpellier’s scoring woes offsetting their occasional defensive solidity, expect an intense game with Rennes likely to capitalize on their momentum and better form.

Montpellier vs Rennes Prediction & Betting Tip

Our recommendation for this match is to back a Rennes win. Here’s a quick breakdown that makes it easy to see why:

Montpellier vs Rennes Prediction
Betting tip	Odds
Rennes to win	2.14

• Rennes’ better form: They have secured three wins in their last five matches (WLWWL).
• Montpellier’s struggles: Montpellier has only one win in their last five games and zero clean sheets.
• Past encounters: Rennes emerged victorious in the last match against Montpellier with a 3-0 win.

Given these factors, Rennes stands out as the smarter bet for this clash at Stade de la Mosson.

Montpellier vs Rennes Odds

Here’s a quick look at the betting odds for the Montpellier vs Rennes match:

Montpellier vs Rennes Betting Odds
Bet	Odds
Montpellier	3.41
Draw	3.47
Rennes	2.09

• Rennes are favored by the bookmakers due to their better recent form compared to Montpellier.
• Montpellier’s odds are longer, reflecting their recent struggles and injuries.
• A draw also has considerable odds, showing that the bookmakers still see some potential for Montpellier to hold Rennes off.

Given the statistics and current form, leaning towards a Rennes win seems the safer bet for this fixture at Stade de la Mosson.

Montpellier Team Analysis

Montpellier Recent Performance

Montpellier’s recent form has been challenging, with the team losing four out of their last five matches. Here’s a look at their recent games:

Home team	Away team	Result
Nice	Montpellier	2-0 (Loss)
Montpellier	Lyon	1-4 (Loss)
Strasbourg	Montpellier	2-0 (Loss)
Montpellier	Lens	0-2 (Loss)
Toulouse	Montpellier	1-2 (Win)

Montpellier has struggled defensively, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five games. They have averaged just 0.60 goals per game during this period.
With several key players injured, including Christopher Jullien and Nikola Maksimovic, Jean-Louis Gasset has had to make do with a thinner squad. The team will need to find form quickly to avoid relegation, as they are currently sitting in 18th place with just 15 points.

Montpellier Key Players

Montpellier’s primary threat comes from their top scorer, Arnaud Nordin, who has netted 4 goals this season. His performance will be crucial if Montpellier are to overcome their recent struggles.
However, injuries have plagued the team, forcing Jean-Louis Gasset to rely on a thinner squad. The return of players like Christopher Jullien and Nikola Maksimovic may potentially bolster the defense in the coming matches.
Expected lineup for Montpellier:

• Goalkeeper: Benjamin Lecomte
• Defenders: Enzo Tchato, Kiki Kouyaté, Yaël Mouanga, Bamo Meïté, Théo Sainte-Luce
• Midfielders: Téji Savanier, Khalil Fayad, Rabby Nzingoula
• Attackers: Wahbi Khazri, Andy Delort

Keep an eye on the key battle between Wahbi Khazri and Rennes’ defenders as Montpellier aims to break their winless streak.

Montpellier Suspensions & Injuries

Montpellier faces significant challenges with several key players out due to injuries and suspensions. This has severely impacted their squad depth and performance.

Suspensions

Player	Suspension	Expected return
Tanguy Coulibaly	Yellow cards (1 match ban)	09/03/2025

Injuries

Player	Injury	Expected return
Christopher Jullien	Cruciate ligament injury	Early March 2025
Nikola Maksimovic	Hamstring injury	Out for the season
Issiaga Sylla	Groin injury	Early March 2025
Becir Omeragic	Meniscus injury	Late March 2025
Modibo Sagnan	Calf injury	Early March 2025
Joris Chotard	Thigh injury	Mid March 2025

Jean-Louis Gasset will need to reshuffle his lineup and cope without these players, putting additional pressure on the available squad members to step up and deliver. The absence of key defenders like Jullien and Maksimovic could particularly expose their backline to the well-organized Rennes attack.

Montpellier Tactics and Formation

Montpellier Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-1-2
• Key Forward: Andy Delort
• Midfield General: Teji Savanier
• Defensive Concerns: No clean sheets in the last five games
• Notable Strategy: Scoring key goals in the 76-90 minute interval

Jean-Louis Gasset will likely deploy a 3-4-1-2 formation to maximize their limited squad. The back three—Bamo Meïté, Kiki Kouyaté, and Yaël Mouanga—will need to be vigilant considering their recent defensive lapses.

In midfield, Savanier will dictate play, supported by Khalil Fayad and Rabby Nzingoula. Enzo Tchato and Théo Sainte-Luce will provide width and support for both attack and defense.

Without Tanguy Coulibaly, Wahbi Khazri and Andy Delort will spearhead the attack, aiming to exploit Rennes’ backline in the later stages of the match.

Rennes Team Analysis

Rennes Recent Performance

Rennes have shown strong form in their recent matches, securing three wins in their last five outings. They have managed to keep three clean sheets, which speaks to their solid defensive structure. On average, they have scored 1.20 goals per game over their last five matches. Here’s a look at their recent performances:

Home team	Away team	Result
Rennes	Reims	1-0 (Win)
Rennes	Lille	0-2 (Loss)
Saint-Etienne	Rennes	0-2 (Win)
Rennes	Strasbourg	1-0 (Win)
Monaco	Rennes	3-2 (Loss)

Rennes’ ability to grind out results, especially away from home, keeps them in a relatively comfortable mid-table position compared to Montpellier.

Rennes Key Players

Rennes have several key players who could make a significant impact in their match against Montpellier. Leading the charge is their top scorer, Arnaud Kalimuendo-Muinga, who has netted 10 goals this season and will be pivotal in their attacking efforts. Supporting him in the midfield is Seko Fofana, whose creativity and vision are crucial for breaking down opposition defenses.

Expected lineup for Rennes:

• Goalkeeper: Steve Mandanda
• Defenders: Hans Hateboer, Jérémy Jacquet, Lilian Brassier
• Midfielders: Lorenz Assignon, Jordan James, Djaoui Cissé, Adrien Truffert
• Attackers: Mousa Tamari, Seko Fofana, Arnaud Kalimuendo

Key individual battles to watch will include Kalimuendo-Muinga versus Montpellier’s defense and Seko Fofana in midfield. These duels could determine the flow and outcome of the match.

Rennes Suspensions & Injuries

Player	Injury	Expected return
Alidu Seidu	Cruciate ligament injury	Out for season
Dogan Alemdar	Cruciate ligament injury	Early March 2025
Anthony Rouault	Ankle injury	Early March 2025

While Rennes don’t have any players suspended for this clash, they’re not without their injury woes. Alidu Seidu and Dogan Alemdar are both dealing with cruciate ligament injuries, with Seidu out for the rest of the season and Alemdar expected back in early March 2025. Rouault’s ankle injury also sees him sidelined until early March 2025.

These absences could impact Rennes’ defensive stability and depth, but with key players like Steve Mandanda and Lilian Brassier available, they have the experience to cope.

Rennes Tactics and Formation

Rennes Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-2-3-1
• Key Forward: Arnaud Kalimuendo
• Midfield Duo: Jordan James, Djaoui Cisse
• Defensive Strength: Three clean sheets in the last five games
• Notable Strategy: Effective counter-attacks, leveraging the pace of Lorenz Assignon and Adrien Truffert on the wings.

With Habib Beye at the helm, Rennes is expected to continue with their balanced 4-2-3-1 formation. This setup allows them to be solid at the back while transitioning quickly into attacking plays.

Arnaud Kalimuendo, the team’s top scorer with 10 goals, is crucial to their attacking prowess. Supporting him from midfield, Seko Fofana and Mousa Tamari will provide the necessary creativity and thrust, with the defensive midfielders ensuring solidity.

Rennes will likely exploit Montpellier’s vulnerability in the last 15 minutes of the game, where the latter has conceded most of their goals.

Montpellier vs Rennes Head-to-Head Statistics

The last five meetings between Montpellier and Rennes suggest a pattern that leans in favor of Rennes. Here’s how their encounters have panned out:

Home	Away	Result
Rennes	Montpellier	3-0
Rennes	Montpellier	2-1
Montpellier	Rennes	0-0
Montpellier	Rennes	1-0
Rennes	Montpellier	3-0

Rennes have managed to secure three victories, with Montpellier only winning once. Their most recent encounter was a dominant 3-0 win for Rennes on 15th September 2024.

Odds accurate as of 28 February 2025 16:16, and are subject to change. Please always check the odds before placing your bets with any bookmaker.