“After a flurry of blocked and saved efforts in the box, Nicolas Pays finally converts to put Montpellier ahead”
Pivotal“Nordan Mukiele is booked for simulation as Grenoble's frustration begins to show”
“Tempers flare as both Mael Corboz and Baptiste Mouazan are booked in quick succession, Mouazan for arguing with officials”
“In the dying seconds, Mamadou Camara pounces on a blocked Mouazan shot to seal the win with Montpellier's second goal”
Pivotal
Montpellier
Grenoble Foot 38
Outstanding performance
Montpellier•GoalkeeperMontpellier controlled proceedings for long stretches, racking up 57% possession and doubling up Grenoble in dangerous attacks (52 to 32), and their patience paid off just before the half-hour when a string of rebounded efforts finally fell for Nicolas Pays. Grenoble actually created more big chances (3 to 2) but squandered them, missing three clear opportunities while Montpellier made the most of fewer, more clinical sightings. The game turned increasingly feisty after the break, with ten substitutions and a string of late bookings as both sides seemed to run out of patience, before Mamadou Camara settled it in the final minute, pouncing after a blocked Baptiste Mouazan shot. For Montpellier, it's another step in the right direction near the top of the table, while Grenoble's wastefulness in front of goal will be the frustrating takeaway from a match they competed in but couldn't escape with anything from.
How entertaining was this match?
Corner awarded.
Mamadou CamaraMamadou Camara takes a shot with his left foot and scores.
assist: Daryll Benlahlou
Goal! Mamadou Camara scores to make it 2-0, assisted by Daryll Benlahlou.
Baptiste Mouazan takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Baptiste MouazanYellow CardBaptiste Mouazan receives a yellow card.
Yellow card issued to Mael Corboz.
Farouq LimouriYellow CardYellow card shown to Farouq Limouri.
Yassine Benhattab is substituted for Nordan Mukiele.
Corner awarded.
Nordan Mukiele takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Moussa Kalilou Djitte is on, and Ugo Bonnet is off.
Substitution: Kyliann Fofana is on, Samba Diba is off.
Daryll Benlahlou takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Naoufel El Hannach comes on for Alpha Sissoko.
Daryll Benlahlou takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Hichem Abderrebi is on, and Theo Chennahi is off.
Samba Diba takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Samba Diba takes a shot with his right foot, but it's blocked.
Shot by Jean-Guy Akpa Akpro with his left foot is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Nordan Mukiele's header is blocked.
Samba Diba attempts a header but misses the shot.
Corner awarded.
Alpha SissokoYellow CardYellow card shown to Alpha Sissoko.
Jean-Guy Akpa Akpro comes on for Yvann Macon.
Substitution: Lucas Bernadou comes on for Yohann Magnin.
Theo Chennahi takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Yael Mouanga is substituted for Daylam Meddah.
Daryll Benlahlou is substituted off for Noah Vidal-Cartoux.
Noah Vidal-Cartoux takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Nicolas Pays takes a left-footed shot, but it's saved.
Nordan Mukiele takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Nordan MukieleYellow CardNordan Mukiele receives a yellow card.
Corner awarded.
Baptiste Mouazan takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Farouq Limouri comes on for Clement Vidal.
Noah Vidal-Cartoux takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Mattheo Xantippe takes a left-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Nesta Zahui with a right-footed attempt, but it’s blocked.
Theo Sainte Luce takes a right-footed shot but misses.
First half ends with the score at 1-0.
Julien LaporteYellow CardJulien Laporte receives a yellow card.
Nordan Mukiele takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Noah Vidal-Cartoux takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Alpha Sissoko takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked on the line.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Nicolas PaysNicolas Pays takes a shot with his left foot and scores.
Goal! Nicolas Pays scores to make it 1-0.
Noah Vidal-Cartoux takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Ugo Bonnet takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Baptiste Mouazan takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Corner awarded.
Shot by Nesta Zahui with a right-footed attempt, but it misses the target.
Ugo Bonnet takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Baptiste Mouazan takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Nicolas Pays takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Noah Vidal-Cartoux takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Corner awarded.
Corner awarded.
Theo Sainte Luce takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Corner awarded.
Ugo Bonnet's left-footed shot is saved.
Yohann MagninYellow CardYohann Magnin receives a yellow card.
Kick-off! The referee is P. Retail.
Fourth-placed Montpellier welcome Grenoble to La Mosson looking to build on a solid season, while the visitors arrive with renewed confidence after taking four points from their last two league outings. A key clash between a promotion-chasing host and a mid-table side fighting to climb.
