The reigning champions will host the cash-laden club from Paris at the Mosson and Rene Girard would be hoping that his side have moved on from their disappointing experience in the Champions League
Time to move on
After losing 3-1 away to Greek side Olympiacos in their fourth match of the group stages of the UEFA Champions League, Montpellier have no chance to secure qualification to the next round of the competition and might not even feature in Europe at all this
season.
With just one point in the group out of a possible 12, La Paillade lie in the last place of a group containing the likes of Schalke 04, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Arsenal-c38429 and Olympiacos which means that the club’s debut UCL campaign is a one to forget.
Things are not looking good domestically either with the reigning champions lying in 14th place in the Ligue 1 standings, looking far from the side that played such entertaining football in the 2011/2012 campaign which ended in their coronation
as the champions of http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/France-c2899 for the first time ever.
And, the game against Paris Saint-Germain might have come way too soon for Rene Girard’s side who know that they are really struggling at the moment and are also not too far away from the relegation zone.
However, there is still time to save a faltering campaign and Montpellier know that they need to get their campaign back on track in order to stand any chance of sealing a place in Europe for next season.
The last time the two sides met at the Mosson saw both compete for the title and now, tables have turned dramatically with the visitors looking to gain momentum and shake-off a small bump of their own.
With a lead of ten points over the team that won the title last season, Paris Saint-Germain know that they have to quickly return to winning ways in the Championnat and keep up the pressure on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 who have made a great start to the new
campaign despite their preseason worries.
The dumping out in Champions League was not Rene Girard had hoped for in the beginning of the campaign and the coach knows that his side needs a miracle in order to qualify for the Europa League.
“We need a miracle now. We have lost twice against Olympiacos. There is not much more you can say, or hope for. We have been put in our place. It was an open group, but not for us. We were not up to the standard required. It’s disappointing because we can
do better.”
Younes Belhanda, Montpellier’s only shining star in an otherwise disappointing European misadventure, says that the team was never really ready to play on such a big stage and lacked experience that is necessary for playing in such a competition.
Now, Belhanda and co must face a PSG side that in contrast, has made a great European run. After beating Dinamo Zagreb at home, Les Parisiens are edging closer to a place in the round of 16.
And, PSG would be out for revenge on a team that simply outclassed them the last time these two sides met. However, Carlo Ancelotti’s men will have to do all this without the presence of talismanic striker http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-c38029 who was shown a straight red
card for a malicious tackle on AS Saint-Etienne goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier in his side’s first defeat of the season at Parc des Princes last week.
Predicted final score: Montpellier 0-2 PSG
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