Stephy Mavididi and Valère Germain scored as Montpellier defeated Saint-Etienne 2-0 on Sunday to leave the record French champions still waiting for their first win of the 2021/22 Ligue 1 Uber Eats season.
THE MATCH
Saint-Etienne came into the game winless in six league matches, and rarely looked like ending that run against the hosts, who are beginning to gel under new coach Olivier Dall'Oglio.
Etienne Green was forced to parry a Téji Savanier free-kick (15') and then watched another shot from the France Olympic team member flash just wide (24') before the former Nîmes midfielder provided a super ball for Mavididi to score the opener.
The former Arsenal and Juventus striker had found the net in the Round 3 win over Lorient, and claimed a confident second of the season with a sidefoot finish (32') as Montpellier seized the initiative.
Saint-Etienne had — through Romain Hamouma — forced Dimitry Bertaud into a fine flying save (32'), but they were generally second-best as Montpellier sought to press home their advantage.
Green denied Savnier one-on-one (46') and Elyes Wahi passed up a fine chance to score from close range (47') before summer arrival Germain got his first goal for his new club: the ex-Marseille and Nice striker was on hand to finish at the back post after Mavididi's forward burst had shattered the visiting rearguard (62'), delivering a blow from which Les Verts never recovered.
THE PLAYER: Stephy Mavididi
The 23-year-old English-born forward is clearly loving life in southern France, and showed his selfless streak as well as his clinical one. It was only the second time — and his first with Montpellier — that he scored and assisted in the same Ligue 1 game.
THE STAT: 2
Montpellier have kept a clean sheet in two of their last four home games in Ligue 1, as many as in their previous 22.