MHSC – Auxerre: three good reasons to follow the Paillade match at La Mosson

Téji Savanier and his partners (here against Strasbourg, 1-1) are looking for a first success this season. Midi Libre – Alexandre Dimou

Returns of Kouyaté and Omeragic, debut of Touré, real turning point in a Mosson where neither Montpellier nor Auxerre like to play: why follow the match between the two teams, Sunday September 22 (5 p.m.).

The squad: Omeragic and Kouyaté back, Touré first

Deprived of nine players in Rennes (3-0) last Sunday, Montpellier will be a little less weakened this Sunday. While there are still seven on the flank (Sainte-Luce, Maamma, Jullien, Tamari, Chotard, Gueguin, Sylla), several players are also back in a squad of 20 that does not include Jordan Ferri.

As Michel Der Zakarian announced on Friday, Lucas Mincarelli will be present, more than three months after his knee injury in early June. He should start on the left of the defense, according to his coach. Who finally has a choice within his rearguard.

A week after Stefan Dzodic started, his first as a pro at 19, Der Zak can this time count on "Kiki" Kouyaté and Becir Omeragic. The Malian, who has a knee injury, is back in the squad, a first since the 2nd matchday in Paris.

As for the Swiss, who was affected by the death of his father on Monday, he will be present at La Mosson. Like Birama Touré, the second and final recruit of the summer, and called up for the first time against Auxerre, whose midfielder wore the jersey from 2017 to 2023 and was the captain.

The key: state of mind

Unable to win again this season, during the first four days (1 draw, 3 defeats), Montpellier must start this Sunday at the Mosson. A home game to take off: not really what MHSC prefers lately. As proof, it has only won two of its last 16 receptions in all competitions, against Metz and Lorient, relegated since to Ligue 2 (8 draws, 6 defeats).

A real evil, therefore, that Téji Savanier's partners would be well inspired to sweep away. For this, Michel Der Zakarian is convinced, the solution lies in the mind. "It's a state of mind that we must have collectively. We must fight against the teams that come to play against us. We must be stronger", encourages the coach.

The number: 2/21

If the grass is no longer very green at La Mosson for MHSC, it is generally green against AJ Auxerre. The Héraultais have thus only lost two of the last 21 receptions of the Burgundians. Enough to make the AJA the least fortunate team at the Paillade among those who have come at least fifteen times.

The Auxerrois are however coming off a success at the Mosson: on August 21, 2022, the partners of Birama Touré, then their captain, won 2-1 against Montpellier reduced to nine by the expulsions of Fayad and Savanier.