Monaco Have Sights Set on Top Spot

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The Ligue 1 action kicks-off on Friday night this weekend and defending champions Monaco welcome Montpellier to the Stade Louis II.

This will be the eighth round of fixtures in Ligue 1 and the final games before we head into the international break, meaning teams will want to go out on a high before players join up with their countries.

Monaco can move to the top of the table prior to Paris Saint-Germain’s game on Saturday afternoon against Bordeaux. Montpellier travel to Monaco hoping to build on their point at PSG last weekend and move into the top half of the table.

Monaco suffered a 3-0 home defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday night and will want to bounce back in-front of their fans in style by winning this game.  Trends show Monaco have lost three of their ten games this season, including the French Cup Super against PSG.

A closer look at their league form shows Monaco have won eighteen of their last nineteen league games and continue to be in good form despite losing several key players in the summer months.

Trends show they are on a run of thirteen consecutive home wins and have won by 2 or more goals in eight of their last twelve Ligue 1 games.  Monaco have scored 2 or more goals in each of their last thirteen home league games.

Montpellier picked up an excellent 0-0 draw at home to PSG last weekend. The club from the capital were expected to win the match with ease but Montpellier had other ideas and kept them at bay for 90 minutes.

This weekend they face another tough test and Montpellier start the match in poor form overall, winning only two of their previous twelve league games.

Trends show Montpellier have lost five of their last six away Ligue 1 games and have won just three of their last twenty on the road in the league.  This is not the form you need when travelling to the home of the champions.

Away from home in Ligue 1, Montpellier have kept only three clean sheets in their last twenty-four games and have scored 2 goals in their last six.

Team news and Monaco are without goalkeeper Danijel Subasic, defender Kevin N’Doram and forward Keita Balde.  Radamel Falcao will start the match up-front looking to add to his tally of goals this season.

Montpellier will be without striker Giovanni Sio who is serving a suspension but have no injury worries and will name a similar team to that which held PSG.

Playing PSG at home is very difficult but playing Monaco away is a different prospect and the hosts will be keen to make amends for their mid-week defeat. Expect Monaco to come away with maximum points from this game and do so by scoring 2 or more goals in the process.