Montpellier Hérault SC have made their Stade de la Mosson a fortress this season — can Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain storm the southerners' bastion on Saturday?
For the first time in three years, Montpellier found the net four times at home last weekend. The 4-2 win over Amiens SC meant the 2011/12 champions have taken 19 points from eight home games this season, losing just once: on the opening day of the campaign to Stade Rennais FC.
"We started off slowly against Rennes on the opening day, but we've got better and better since. When we play here in front of our crowd, we feel unstoppable!" said defender Daniel Congré, who joined the club from Toulouse FC just after the title triumph. "We can't slacken off, we've got to keep winning at home. It's a big plus for us!"
Only three teams — PSG, LOSC Lille and Stade de Reims — boast better defensive records at home, and Congré admitted that that was as much due to the work of forwards such as Gaëtan Laborde and Andy Delort as the back line and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
"For us at the back, seeing them press opposition defenders high up the pitch give us strength. It boosts the entire team!" he said.
PSG will naturally provide the stiffest test yet of Montpellier's defence, marshalled by the exceptional Vitorino Hilton. The 42-year-old Brazilian is playing some of the best football of his career, despite his advanced age, and will hope to extend his club's three-game unbeaten run at home to the visitors from the capital.
Congré insisted that even in the face of the firepower the likes of Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Angel Di Maria give PSG, Montpellier will not only defend: "We want to walk all over our opponents, and do as best as we can!"