Montpellier v Red Star: probable line-ups for Ligue 2 meeting

Montpellier and Red Star meet on Monday evening in the 10th round of Ligue 2, with both sides looking for points to strengthen their play-off hopes. Despite a number of absences, each team will aim to take advantage of the other’s weaknesses in what promises to be a closely contested match.

Montpellier

Montpellier’s injury list has shortened, with only Hatchi and Gueguin ruled out. Theo Sainte-Luce remains doubtful after being substituted against Rodez, leaving some uncertainty over the make-up of the home side’s defence.

Zoumana Camara will have Florian Tardieu available in midfield. Montpellier can also draw encouragement from the form of Nicolas Pays and Lacine Megnan-Pave, who both scored in the team’s previous match.

Simon Ngapandouetnbu is expected to start in goal. El Hannach could feature at right-back, although Mukiele is another option, while Julien Laporte, Daylam Meddah and Theo Sainte-Luce are the other likely defensive choices.

Tardieu is set to line up alongside Noah Vidal-Cartoux and Theo Chennahi in midfield. Pays and Megnan-Pave are expected to support M. Camara in attack.

Probable Montpellier XI: Goalkeeper: Simon Ngapandouetnbu Defenders: El Hannach (or Mukiele), Julien Laporte, Daylam Meddah, Theo Sainte-Luce Midfielders: Florian Tardieu, Noah Vidal-Cartoux, Theo Chennahi Forwards: Nicolas Pays, Lacine Megnan-Pave, M. Camara

Red Star

Red Star will be without Lemonnier, Cabral, Guindo, Diawara and Trani. The visitors can nevertheless name several key players, including Damien Durand, who has scored five goals in Ligue 2 this season, and Jovany Ikanga, who has four goals and two assists.

Samuel Renel is expected to take his place in midfield, while Eliaz Zidane could be selected at centre-back. Gaetan Poussin is the probable goalkeeper behind a defensive line made up of Theo Magnin, Dylan Durivaux, Zidane and Matthieu Huard.

Issiar Halifa, Renel, Kevin Cisse, Saif-Eddine Khaoui and Durand are all in contention to form the midfield and attacking unit, with Ikanga likely to lead the line as the central striker.

Probable Red Star XI: Goalkeeper: Gaetan Poussin Defenders: Theo Magnin, Dylan Durivaux, Eliaz Zidane, Matthieu Huard Midfielders: Issiar Halifa, Samuel Renel, Kevin Cisse, Saif-Eddine Khaoui, Damien Durand Centre-forward: Jovany Ikanga

The match is the 10th-round meeting between the two Ligue 2 clubs, with both sides entering the contest focused on collecting points in the race for the play-offs.