Panoramic
| PROBABLE LINE-UPS |
MONTPELLIER  Jourden Bedimo, Hilton, Yanga-Mbiwa, Bocaly Marveaux, Estrada Cabella, Utaka, Dernis Giroud | LYON  Lloris Dabo, Umtiti, Gonalons, Cissokho Kallstrom, Fofana Briand, Gourcuff, Bastos Lisandro Lopez |
Montpellier coach Rene Girard has no major injury concerns ahead of the visit of Lyon in Saturday night's clash at Stade de la Mosson.
La Paillade might have exceeded expectations in the first half of the season, but with up to four key players being selected for next week's Africa Cup of Nations, Montpellier will have to overcome a severe test to their unlikely title credentials.
Abdelhamid El-Kaoutari, Younes Belhanda (Morocco), Souleymane Camara (Senegal), and Jamel Saihi (Tunisia) miss out for the next few weeks, with 13-goal Olivier Giroud once again the focal point in attack.
Meanwhile, Lyon are still hamstrung by injuries to their defence. Anthony Reveillere and Dejan Lovren both missed Wednesday's morale-boosting 2-1 win over Lille, and with Cris already sidelined, Samuel Umtiti may continue his unlikely run in the first-team.
Guieda Fofana and Michel Bastos are set to return to the fold and could replace Clement Grenier and Alexandre Lacazette as Remi Garde looks to build on les Gones' fourth place standing.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
- Montpellier were defeated 4-2 by Evian in their previous league game last month.
- La Paillade have dropped just five points out of 27 at Stade de la Mosson in 2011-12.
- Despite their second place standing, Rene Girard's men are winless in their last three games.
- Lyon lost in Valenciennes 2-1 on matchday 19.
- Les Gones are unbeaten in their last seven against Montpellier.
- Despite that, Remi Garde's men have been defeated in five of their last seven games on the road in Ligue 1.
- Lyon have been drawn to face FC Lorient in the Coupe de la Ligue semi-finals on 31 January.
Editor's Prediction
Montpellier Herault 1-1 Olympique Lyonnais
