🔥 Our Hot tip

Nantes to win

Bottom club Montpellier have lost 13 and drawn one of their last 14 fixtures in Ligue 1.

Nantes need a positive result on the final day of the Ligue 1 campaign against Montpellier at the Stade de la Beaujoire – Louis Fonteneau to secure their top-flight status on Saturday, 17 May. Read our Ligue 1 predictions for the contest below.

Nantes vs Montpellier prediction: Motivated hosts are worth backing

Key Stats

  • Nantes beat Montpellier 3-1 when the teams last met back in August.
  • Montpellier have failed to score in six of their last seven away assignments in Ligue 1.
  • 100% of Nantes’ last five home matches in the league have featured under 2.5 goals.
  • Montpellier have collected a league-high 90 cards in Ligue 1 this term.

Correct score prediction: Nantes 1-0 Montpellier

Nantes need a positive result to ensure they remain in Ligue 1, though they have scored only two goals in their last five home games combined, so expect any margin of victory to be slim.

Place your bet on this prediction at bet365.

Pre-game odds and win probability: Nantes are clear favourites

  • HOME: 1/2 (1.50) – 66.7%
  • DRAW: 7/2 (4.50) – 22.2%
  • AWAY: 5/1 (6.00) – 16.7%

*odds from Ladbrokes, subject to change

Nantes are two points clear of the drop zone ahead of the final day of the Ligue 1 campaign, so the 1/2 favourites still have work to do against Montpellier.

Montpellier are guaranteed to finish bottom and the division’s worst team and 5/1 underdogs haven’t won a league fixture since 26 January. View more of our free football predictions and Ligue 1 analysis on our dedicated page.

Most recent H2Hs: Nantes have the better record

Nantes have won two of their last three meetings with Montpellier and won 3-1 in the reverse fixture between the clubs in August.

France Ligue 1 31/08/24

Montpellier

Montpellier

1
Nantes

Nantes

3

France Ligue 1 26/04/24

Montpellier

Montpellier

1
Nantes

Nantes

1

France Ligue 1 22/10/23

Nantes

Nantes

2
Montpellier

Montpellier

0

France Ligue 1 20/05/23

Nantes

Nantes

0
Montpellier

Montpellier

3

France Ligue 1 15/01/23

Montpellier

Montpellier

0
Nantes

Nantes

3

Nantes preview: Three out for hosts

Meschack Elia, Sekou Doucoure and Saidou Sow are out injured for Nantes. Les Canaris have drawn three of their last four league games, though they will be targeting three points against a poor Montpellier outfit here.

Predicted lineup: Lopes (GK), Thomas, Castelletto, Zeze, Pallois, Centonze, Coquelin, Chirivella, Augusto, Abline, Simon

France Ligue 1 10/05/25

D

Auxerre

Auxerre

1

Nantes

Nantes

1

France Ligue 1 04/05/25

L

Angers

Angers

1

Nantes

Nantes

0

France Ligue 1 27/04/25

D

Toulouse

Toulouse

0

Nantes

Nantes

0

France Ligue 1 22/04/25

D

PSG

PSG

1

Nantes

Nantes

1

France Ligue 1 18/04/25

L

Rennes

Rennes

2

Nantes

Nantes

1

Montpellier preview: Visitors are depleted

Montpellier will be without the services of Theo Sainte-Luce, Issiaga Sylla, Christopher Jullien, Modibo Sagnan, Andy Delort, Nikola Maksimovic and Axel Gueguin. Montpellier have already lost 25 of their 33 Ligue 1 fixtures this season.

Predicted lineup: Lecomte (GK), Tchato, Mouanga, Omeragic, Mincarelli, Chennahi, Nzingoula, Chotard, Ferri, Coulibaly, Fayad

France Ligue 1 10/05/25

L

PSG

PSG

4

Montpellier

Montpellier

1

France Ligue 1 04/05/25

L

Brest

Brest

1

Montpellier

Montpellier

0

France Ligue 1 27/04/25

D

Reims

Reims

0

Montpellier

Montpellier

0

France Ligue 1 19/04/25

L

Marseille

Marseille

5

Montpellier

Montpellier

1

France Ligue 1 13/04/25

L

Angers

Angers

2

Montpellier

Montpellier

0

Player to watch – Moses Simon

Nigerian attacker Moses Simon has been Nantes’ most impactful player in the final third this season, chipping in with seven goals and nine assists in Ligue 1 since August, and Les Canaris would love another moment of inspiration from their best forward on Saturday.

Nantes vs Montpellier prediction
Moses Simon is Nantes' leading marksman in Ligue 1 this season. (Photo by Imago)

Can Simon punish Montpellier again?

Simon scored from the penalty spot when Nantes beat Montpellier 3-1 at the beginning of the campaign and had three shots in that triumph overall. The 29-year-old, who tends to start from the left, could be similarly influential this weekend.

ligue 1 predictions

Simon Winter is a professional football tipster and sports journalist with over ten years in the industry. Best known for his time with Racing Post, Simon has also had work published by Freesupertips, Bloomberg Sports, bet365, Paddy Power, Colossus Bets, These Football Times and more. Simon covers the Bundesliga and Serie A for Football Whispers.