Following a disappointing start to their Ligue 1 title defence, Lille will be looking to bounce back and claim their first victory of the season when they face Montpellier HSC on Sunday.

The visitors, meanwhile, secured their first three points last weekend against Lorient, though they head to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy having failed to win any of their last six meetings against Les Dogues.

Match preview

After an underwhelming transfer window this summer and the loss of their title-winning manager Christophe Galtier to Nice, Lille have instantly transformed from being a team with the league's best defence to one with the worst.

Les Dogues have conceded eight goals in their opening three league matches, more than any other Ligue 1 side so far this term and as many as they did in their last 13 top-flight matches of 2020-21. In fact, this is the highest number conceded by a reigning champion at this stage of the competition since 1964-65.

A 3-3 draw with Metz and a heavy 4-0 home defeat by Nice was followed by a 1-1 draw away at Saint-Etienne last weekend, with the hosts scoring an 85th-minute equaliser through Saidou Sow, preventing the visitors from claiming their first win.

Jocelyn Gourvennec is now tasked with revitalising his new Lille side, who are already seven points behind league leaders and title favourites Paris Saint-Germain.

Fortunately for Les Dogues, they have an impressive record against Sunday's opponents Montpellier, losing just one of their last nine Ligue 1 games against them. They are also unbeaten in their previous nine home league matches against La Paillade, losing their last by a 1-0 scoreline in August 2011.

If Lille fail to secure three points this weekend, then this would see them extend their winless run to four successive games for first time since 2010-11.

Montpellier were able to claim their first victory of the new campaign when they came from behind to beat nine-man Lorient 3-1 last weekend.

Enzo Le Fee opened the scoring in the 21st minute for the visitors, but La Paillade responded with second-half strikes from Teji Tedy Savanier, Stephy Mavididi and Andy Delort to turn the game on its head.

Gaetan Laborde was surprisingly not on the scoresheet this time around but the Frenchman has been in fine form in front of goal this calendar year, contributing 14 goals and four assists in 28 games, including two strikes this term.

Michel Der Zakarian's side have looked strong going forward, scoring eight goals already from their three matches; only PSG (10) have found the net on more occasions.

Montpellier travel to the Stade Pierre-Mauroy with confidence, having lost only one of their last 10 Ligue 1 away games.

However, they have not won any of their last eight away trips against the reigning champions with their last such win coming at Lille in August 2011.

Team News

Lille midfielder Renato Sanches has undergone knee surgery and is to remain sidelined for at least six weeks.

Right-back Zeki Celik, who remains heavily linked with a move away this summer, could be left on the bench again, with Tiago Djalo set to start ahead of him.

Goalkeeper Ivo Grbic was handed his first start of the season last weekend ahead of Leo Jardim and could be given another chance between the sticks on Sunday, with central defenders Jose Fonte and Sven Botman expected to shield the Croatian in the back four.

Xeka was fit to start the last game in midfield and will likely keep his place alongside Benjamin Andre.

As for Montpellier, first-choice goalkeeper Jonas Omlin looks set to remain on the sidelines with the groin injury which forced him to miss Euro 2020, and there are also long-term absences for Pedro Mendes and Ambroise Oyongo who are suffering with knee problems.

Former Liverpool and Crystal Palace centre-back Mamadou Sakho is set to partner Matheus Thuler in the heart of the defence, while Jordan Ferri and Joris Chotard will likely continue in centre-midfield.

After scoring last weekend while playing in an advanced midfield role, Savanier is set to be handed another start in behind central striker Delort.

Lille possible starting lineup:
Grbic; Djalo, Fonte, Botman, Mandava; Weah, Andre, Xeka, Bamba; David, Yilmaz

Montpellier HSC possible starting lineup:
Bertaud; Sambia, Thuler, Sakho, Cozza; Ferri, Chotard; Laborde, Savanier, Mavididi; Delort

We say: Lille 2-2 Montpellier HSC

Lille are desperate to turn their fortunes around but will need to improve defensively if they are to come out on top this weekend.

They may, however, struggle to cope with the attacking form of a Montpellier side, who we are predicting will claim a point on their travels.

Previews by email