Racing 92 vs Montpellier Prediction: Hosts expected to bounce back to winning ways

The Paris La Defense Arena is set to host the round 15 France Top 14 encounter between Racing 92 and Montpellier. In their previous matches, both teams faced defeats against their respective opponents. The question now is, which side will be the first to bounce back and secure a victory in this upcoming fixture?

Racing 92 is set to resume Top 14 action this weekend after a break for the Six Nations, currently holding the fourth position on the table after 14 matches. With eight wins and six defeats, only one point separates the top four teams, presenting an opportunity for Racing 92 to make a significant move up the standings. In their recent Top 14 matches, Racing 92 faced back-to-back defeats, losing 27-20 at home to Toulouse and 26-5 to USA Perpignan. The latter result was particularly challenging as Racing 92 was missing numerous players due to Six Nations commitments. Before these defeats, Racing 92 secured a victory against Cardiff at home in the Champions Cup but suffered a loss to Bath in the same competition the week before.

Montpellier is currently facing the genuine threat of relegation this season, a stark contrast to their title-winning performance just a couple of years ago. With only four wins from 14 games, they find themselves at the bottom of the league standings. Despite their challenging league position, Montpellier has shown decent form in recent times, securing four victories in their last seven games across all competitions. In their most recent match, they suffered a defeat, losing 18-10 at La Rochelle. However, the week before, Montpellier managed to secure a win at home against Pau with a score of 22-17. Additionally, in the Challenge Cup, Montpellier recorded a 13-3 victory against the Lions in mid-January but experienced a subsequent loss to Benetton.

It's a challenging decision, taking into account the absence of key players from both teams. Racing 92 appears to be in good form, but matchups between these teams are rarely straightforward. I support Montpellier to stay within a 13-point margin and potentially create an upset in a game expected to feature few offensive plays.