SportsMall previews Friday's Ligue 1 clash between Monaco and Lille, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
League leaders return to Ligue 1 action on Friday night Monaco welcome Lily To the State Louis II.
The host leapfrogged champions Paris St. Germain To reach the Ligue 1 summit In the final game before the international break, Lille also continued to ride the crest of a wave after an incredible run in Europe.
Competition preview
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October's international break came at the worst possible time for Monaco as they had an incredible start to the season.
Despite facing a tricky trip to Rennes, Adi HutterHis men were undaunted knowing that a win would have put them top, and they won that test, winning 2-1.
PSG's points dropped to Nice meant Monaco went into the break with a two-point lead in Ligue 1, and the 19 points they collected after seven games was their best tally at this stage since the 1960-61 season. They ended up as French champions.
On only three previous occasions have Monaco started a Ligue 1 season unbeaten in seven games, that season in 1960-61 being the first time, and in 1979-80 and 2013-14 they managed the feat but failed to win. title in those latter two campaigns.
That league win in Rennes came just days after Monaco clung to a dramatic unbeaten start, needing two late goals in rain-soaked Croatia to draw with Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League.
Hence, this match will give the hosts a chance to start the campaign with a 10-match unbeaten run. Beat Barcelona In the previous season.
Hutter's side are unbeaten in their last 10 home league games – their best run in over six years – and unbeaten at home in their previous 12 Ligue 1 meetings at the Stade, so all signs point to Hutter's side looking to extend that record. Louis II.
Lille will be hoping to replicate the performance they produced in the Coupe de France in 2019, however, coming away with a 3-0 win here and their last few results will give them great confidence in achieving that.
Bruno GenesioHis side could have been forgiven for being a little low on morale after four straight defeats between late August and mid-September. Late Jonathan David Penalty to equalize.
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Since then, Lille have beaten Le Havre and Toulouse in Ligue 1 to move within a point of the Champions League positions.
Their crowning moment of the season came in the Champions League, with Genesio masterminding it. Real Madrid won 1-0 Two weeks ago at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Lille didn't let the result lead to complacency as they came from behind. Angel Gomez And Mitchell Baker To beat Toulouse in their last outing before the break.
David and later Eden Zecroa Having scored all of LOSC's goals in their previous seven matches, Geneseo will have been pleased to see the goals shared once again.
Lille have now scored in 20 of their last 22 league games, but they will be aware of the task ahead of them considering Monaco were one of the two teams to shut them down in that run when they went down 1-0. The month of April.
Monaco Ligue 1 Format:
Monaco Format (All Matches):
Lille Ligue 1 Form:
Lily Form (All Matches):
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Eden Diop Injuries remain an issue for Monaco at the weekend, but plenty of players have been involved in international action.
Wanderson And Takumi Minamino A lot of air miles have been traveled from South America and Asia respectively, while young talent Elyssie Ben Seger He was in the Morocco squad for the trip to the Central African Republic on Tuesday night.
Captain Denis Zakaria Missing Switzerland's matches against Serbia and Denmark last week is questionable, but no problem. Thilo GehrerAlthough he left the German side.
Lille wide man Jegrova's fine form continued when he was named man of the match in Kosovo's win over Lithuania at half-time, scoring his seventh goal in 13 appearances for club and country this season.
David's fitness will be questioned for Canada against Panama early Wednesday morning.
The audience will definitely be absent Benjamin AndreSuspended after caution against Toulouse Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, Ishmael And Samuel Umtiti Stay away hurt.
Monaco Probable Starting Lineup:
Cone; Chingo, Salisu, Gehrer, Kayo Henrique; mahasa, room; Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir; Embolo
Lille Possible Starting Line-up:
the knight; James Santos, Diagit, Alexandro, Gudmundson, Baker; Angel Gomes, Andre Gomes, Bowdy; Jecrova, David
We say: Monaco 2-1 Lille
No team has won more games in Ligue 1 than Monaco in 2024 and they will be looking to defend their 17th place of the calendar year here and retain their place at the top.
Lille also enter the game in fine form, but having both represented their countries 72 hours ago, Džečrová and David must hope to be in top form if they get the chance.
Please click here for data analysis of most probable results, scores and more for this match.
