MY ACCOUNT
Erratic Monaco will welcome Lyon to the Stade Louis II on Sunday evening for the final Ligue 1 clash of the weekend, with the visitors keen to put their first league defeat behind them.
Monaco, in contrast to Lyon, have struggled for consistency so far this season, with two wins, two draws and two defeats in the league, although they did make it two wins on the bounce on their trip to Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday.
Sunday’s opponents, meanwhile, had been well below par 24 hours earlier in losing 3-1 at Lorient.
Lyon, who finished eighth last season to miss out on European football, could be on something of a false high, as four of their six games so far have been played on home soil.
Les Gones are winless in two on the road but could not ask for a better chance to secure their first away win as Monaco have picked up only one point from nine on their own patch.
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Team news
Myron Boadu and Kevin Volland remain the major injury worries for Monaco, who can, though, welcome Guillermo Maripan back into their matchday plans after his suspension.
Switzerland international Breel Embolo came off the bench to get the only goal against Red Star Belgrade on Thursday in the Europa League and will be hoping to claim a starting jersey now in his quest to score for a third game in a row.
Lyon coach Peter Bosz has mostly remained faithful to his chosen XI this season, especially at the back.
Thiago Mendes was out of sorts on Wednesday, earning a first-half booking as his side struggled before he was withdrawn at the break.
The likes of Sinaly Diomande and Damien Da Silva will be eager to seize a starting opportunity should Bosz choose to wield the axe now.
Julian Pollersbeck and Jerome Boateng remain sidelined for the visitors, while Houssem Aouar seems unlikely to be involved after his possible move to the Premier League failed to materialise last week.
The stats
This may not be a game either side feels comfortable going into.
Monaco have lost two of three home games in Ligue 1 so far, earning just one point.
Worryingly for the hosts, they shipped four goals in both those losses against Lens and Troyes.
On their travels, Lyon earned a 1-1 draw at Reims prior to that bitterly disappointing midweek setback at Lorient.
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 12 of Lyon’s last 13 games, while, despite their home travails, Monaco have scored at least two goals in five of their last six games at Stade Louis II.
The head-to-head record between these two shows that Monaco have a 24-18 advantage with 13 draws from 55 previous matches, while last season each team won their home fixture with a 2-0 scoreline.
Prediction
It is hard to be bullish on either side’s chances of a victory.
Monaco are leaking goals at home and had a tough trip to Belgrade on Thursday evening, while Lyon were all but done before the 50-minute mark on their visit to Lorient 24 hours earlier.
Goals, however, could be the way to go in this Ligue 1 showdown.
Monaco’s previous two home games have yielded 11 goals between them and they can generally be relied on at home to find the net.
Despite failing to register a three-point haul on the road, Lyon have scored in both away games so far.
This has the potential to be an entertaining clash, and over 2.5 goals could be the answer given both sides have questions against them in terms of getting the win.
Embolo has scored first in Monaco’s last two games, domestically and in Europe, and will have an excellent chance to get amongst the goals again if, as expected, he starts this clash.
These sides do not have a lot of love for one another so the red card market could also prove profitable.
In the 12 Ligue 1 clashes contested by Monaco and Lyon so far this season, there have been no fewer than six red cards handed out.
