Montpellier play at the Stade de la Mosson, in Montpellier, Nîmes Olympique play at the Stade des Antonins in Nîmes; the two grounds are separated by approximately 53 miles (85 km). The teams have played 25 matches in all competitions; Nîmes Olympique winning 11, Montpellier winning 7 and remaining 7 games were drawn.[citation needed]
Nîmes Olympique was considered the best club in the region from the 1950s until the early 1980s. This leadership is challenged by the rise of Montpellier in the 1970s. The club gradually weakens Nîmes by recovering many important players like Louis Landi, Michel Mézy or the coach Kader Firoud.[citation needed]
Head-to-head
The derby has been contested the most in the top division, with 19 matches played in French Division 1/Ligue 1, Nîmes Olympique won 9 matches, Montpellier won 4 and remaining 6 were drawn, in Ligue 2, Nîmes Olympique won 1, Montpellier won 2 and 1 match was drawn, only 2 matches were played in the cup competitions, 1 in Coupe de France and 1 in Coupe de la Ligue with Nîmes Olympique winning the first one and Montpellier winning the latter.[citation needed]