Montpellier take on the visitors Dunkerque in the round 18 match of French Ligue 2. The match will be played on Monday, January 5th at Stade de la Mosson (Montpellier).
Montpellier do not want to get stuck at this level, but seem destined for it. The Paladins managed to claim their championship back in 2012, before PSG’s era of dominance, and that title remains the only one in the club’s history. Last season, however, the team collapsed completely, finishing bottom of Ligue 1 in 18th place. The current objective is clear: after relegation to the second division, avoid getting stuck there and return as quickly as possible to a more familiar, higher level. For now, though, it feels like Montpellier may have to linger on this rung of French football, as their results have been far too modest and colorless. It is hard to seriously count on promotion to Ligue 1 when the number of wins exceeds defeats by just one, seven against six. Moreover, two losses in the last three league rounds underline the inconsistency, even if the team continued to progress in the cup and ended 2025 with a 1–0 away win over Cannes. In recent weeks Montpellier have struggled to build momentum in the league, often dropping points in matches they need to control. Their current form suggests a side that is competitive but lacks the consistency required for a real promotion push.
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Dunkerque have not reminded many of themselves for quite some time, aside from a relegation even to the third division. They returned quickly, though against the backdrop of arrests among the club’s top management. After a change of ownership, the project improved rapidly. So much so that last season Dunkerque fought very seriously, right until the end, for a long-awaited promotion to Ligue 1. The outcome, however, was unfortunate: they finished only fourth in the regular season and then, after eliminating Metz in the play-offs, lost to Guingamp. This season, the ambition is naturally to take the next, decisive step forward, but in reality wins account for less than half of their matches and defeats still occur. Since October they seemed to have found some rhythm, yet the year ended on a sour note as their unbeaten run was snapped by a 1–2 cup loss to Strasbourg. Overall, Dunkerque have looked more organized than earlier in the campaign and are capable of competing with strong opponents. At the same time, recent setbacks show that their form is still fragile when the pressure rises.
The clubs first met in the cup back in 2009, when Dunkerque produced a shock away victory. In October, Montpellier took revenge in Ligue 2, in an identical fashion, winning 1–0 on the road. The Paladins are considered fairly clear favorites. Still, it is worth thinking about a bet on the visitors not losing once again.
Prediction for the match: Dunkerque not to lose (X2).
