PSG vs Montpellier Football Match Score 14 Aug 2022
Fresh from a 5-0 trouncing of Clermont on the opening day of the season, Paris Saint-Germain return to the Parc des Princes for Saturday’s visit of Montpellier HSC in Ligue 1. Meanwhile, the visitors were also involved in a five-goal encounter in gameweek one and just about managed to scrape past Troyes 3-2 on their own turf. Nine goals scored. Zero conceded. One trophy already in the cabinet. Christophe Galtier’s start to life at PSG has been close to perfect so far, but the Frenchman still has a long way to go to appease the merciless Parisiens board.
The opening-day trip to Clermont last week saw Neymar, Marquinhos and Achraf Hakimi get on the scoresheet before the half-time whistle blew, and the former then turned provider for Lionel Messi before a stunning overhead kick from the Argentine sealed a romping PSG success. Sitting at the top of the fledgling rankings after just one game, PSG will have no intention of losing their grip on first place in the next 37 gameweeks, and their unbeaten run in the top flight now stands at 10 matches. The reigning champions are still in the market for new arrivals as they prepare to bring Fabian Ruiz to the club from Napoli, with Galtier admitting in his pre-match press conference that his side are in need of another striker to take some of the pressure off of Kylian Mbappe’s shoulders.
After going unbeaten at the Parc des Princes for the entirety of last season in Ligue 1, PSG now set out to extend their unbeaten domestic streak on home soil to a whopping 23 matches, and a leaky Montpellier defence should travel to the capital in hope rather than expectation. Goals can always be expected in a game where Olivier Dall’Oglio is wandering up and down the touchline, but the crowd at the Stade de la Mosson could not have envisaged the blockbuster start that occurred in Saturday’s battle with Troyes. By the 17-minute mark, Teji Savanier, Theo Sainte-Luce, Florian Tardieu and Mama Balde had struck for their respective sides, and the scoreline would remain at 2-2 before a moment of magic from Savanier bagged Montpellier all three points.
The Paillade captain bagged his second with a lovely cushioned finish from the edge of the area in the 81st minute, which broke a miserable 11-match winless run for Dall’Oglio’s side in Ligue 1 since beating now-relegated Bordeaux back in March.
Meetings with Auxerre, Brest and Ajaccio will follow for La Paillade after their tough examination against PSG, who are aiming to inflict a sixth-straight away loss onto Dall’Oglio’s men, who have shipped at least two goals in each of their last five away league battles.
PSG eased to a 2-0 win at the Parc des Princes over Montpellier last term before a 4-0 success at the Stade de la Mosson back in May, which represented the champions’ seventh consecutive win in this fixture in all competitions. Defending champions PSG will welcome Montpellier to Parc des Princes in their first home game of the 2022/23 campaign. French champions Paris Saint-Germain begin the 2022/23 campaign as the favourites to clinch Ligue 1 title again. They showcased their dominance with a 5-0 thrashing of Clermont Foot on opening day and will now be keen to replicate it on their home ground.
Montpellier will become the first away side to grace the Parc des Princes this season and will be up against a side that looks hungry for more glory. The arrival of Christophe Galtier has added new impetus to a side that, at times, looked rudderless under Mauricio Pochettino. Lionel Messi and Neymar have finally exploded and have built up a good rapport. The South American duo were heavily involved in the win over Clermont Foot and will be keen to keep their purple patch going. Coincidentally, Galtier is the last manager to defeat the French giants at home all the way back in April 2021.
Montpellier finished 13th in Ligue 1 last season and have a leaky defence to boot. If anything, on paper, this makes PSG the worst team to come up against them at this point of the season. La Paillade defeated Troyes on opening day but failed to keep a clean sheet on the night. PSG did the double over Montpellier last season, winning 6-0 on aggregate. Les Parisiens have had the upper hand in this fixture in recent years, and unless Montpellier pull a rabbit out of the hat, it is difficult to see them to challenge the defending champions. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
The French champions go into the game with only German international Julian Draxler unavailable. Draxler is recovering from a knee injury and is the hosts’ lone confirmed major senior absentee. Summer signing Renato Sanches is also nursing an injury and might not start on the night. French international Kylian Mbappe missed PSG’s previous two games due to suspension and an adductor injury but is now ready to make his comeback. His return will add further bite to an attack that already looks menacing from what we have seen so far this season.
With Mbappe back, Galtier is likely to field a 3-4-1-2 formation on the night. Gianluigi Donnarumma is a shoo-in in the goal and will be protected by a back three of Presnel Kimpembe, Marquinhos and Sergio Ramos. The trio has experience and ability at their disposal and will form a formidable rearguard against what is admittedly middle-tier opposition. Marco Verratti and new signing Vitinha will form a partnership in the middle of the park and will be tasked with winning the midfield battle. The duo is likely to be flanked by Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi, who will be expected to run up and down the wing all night. Given PSG”s current form, the duo will be expected to spend the majority of their time in the opposition half.
Lionel Messi is likely to play the number 10 role behind Mbappe and Neymar. The trio could finally be about to explode in a big way, and we can get a first look at how they link up on the night. Olivier Dall’Oglio will be without Stephy Mavididi who limped off on opening day. He joins Sacha Delaye on the sidelines and could also be accompanied by Pedro Mendes, who remains a doubt thanks to a muscle issue. Montpellier will, however, welcome back Jordan Ferri from suspension and Arnaud Nordin from a groin injury. La Paillade have a tough ask to keep up with PSG on the night, and it could all depend on whether they take any chances that fall to them.
The French minnows are likely to set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation and will look to crowd the midfield with bodies. This strength in numbers will give them a fighting chance of negating PSG’s attacking prowess. While Lionel Messi does know his way around a crowded opposition, it could draw him and Neymar deeper, leaving Kylian Mbappe isolated upfront. But then that would depend a lot on Montpellier maintaining consistency for the whole ninety minutes without making an error, something easier said than done. Jonas Omlin will start in goal behind the four-man backline of Faitout Maouassa, former PSG man Mamadou Sakho, Falaye Sacko and Arnaud Souquet.
Jordan Ferri and Joris Chotard will be entrusted with the key responsibility of keeping Lionel Messi quiet. They can cut off supply to the Argentine by shutting Marco Verratti out of the game. How well they can negate Verratti and Vitinha could set the tone for the match. Teji Savanier will start in the central midfield role and will be entrusted with making forward plays whenever possible. He will be joined by Arnaud Nordin and Wahbi Khazri as Montpellier look to hit PSG on the counter. The trio is likely to take their position behind Sepe Elye Wahi, who will start up front.
