In a bid to secure their first away points of the new Ligue 1 season, Montpellier HSC are set to travel to the Champagne region of France on Sunday to take on Reims at Stade Auguste-Delaune.
After a 3-1 victory over Angers last week propelled Les rouges et blancs to fourth place in the table, Montpellier suffered a heartbreaking last-minute defeat against Monaco (2-1), dropping them into an early relegation play-off spot.
Looking ahead to the upcoming match, Reims have the opportunity to reach the 14-point mark after seven matchdays for the first time since the 1974-75 top-flight campaign. The team has secured maximum points in three of their last five home fixtures, matching their total from the previous 10 Ligue 1 matches combined.
It has been a while since Reims claimed at least a point in four consecutive home games, with their most recent successful streak dating back to the 2022-23 season. The last time Reims defeated Montpellier at home in this competition was on matchday 10 of the 2019-20 season, when they emerged with a 1-0 win.
In terms of team news, Montpellier HSC has struggled on the road this season, losing all three of their away matches by a combined margin of 11-1. Another defeat this weekend would mark just the third occasion in the history of La Paillade that they have lost five top-flight fixtures after seven matchdays.
Furthermore, the club has not suffered four consecutive league defeats since the 1981-82 campaign. Despite their recent away struggles, Montpellier have managed to emerge victorious in their last two visits to Stade Auguste-Delaune, including a dramatic 2-1 win in the corresponding fixture last season.
Overall, both teams will be eager to secure a positive result in this upcoming clash as they look to improve their standing in the Ligue 1 table.