Monaco in Race for Second Place

There are two Ligue 1 fixtures in France this Friday night and the best of them takes place at the Stade Louis II as Monaco host Bordeaux.

Monaco come into this game sitting second in Ligue 1 with 57 points from twenty-seven games played.  They are too far adrift of Paris Saint-Germain to retain their title this season but will be hoping to secure an automatic place in the Champions League by finishing as runners-up.

Bordeaux find themselves in 8th place on 36 points having played the same number of games as Monaco.  They are too far behind the top four to have any chance of qualifying for European football next season and are 8 points off the relegation playoff place, so a mid-table finish is the best they can hope for come the end of this campaign.

Monaco were held to a shock 3-3 draw at Toulouse on the weekend. With Toulouse down in 16th place, this was a match Monaco were expected to win and the result allowed PSG to pull further away at the top of the table.

Trends show Monaco are unbeaten in their last six games in all competitions and have lost only one of their last sixteen, which is a very good record.

The defeat came at home against Lyon in the Coupe de France but at home, Monaco have lost just one of their last ten, winning each of the last three.

Monaco have scored at least 2 goals in each of their last seven Ligue 1 matches.

Bordeaux make the trip to the principality having been held to a 0-0 draw at home by Nice last weekend. This was their second game in succession where they have failed to win in Ligue 1 having lost 1-0 at Marseille the week before.

Prior to the loss at Marseille, Bordeaux’s form had improved and they won four league games on the spin, including away victories at Nantes and Strasbourg.  Both those wins featured a clean sheet for Bordeaux but they are going to struggle to repeat that in this fixture.

Bordeaux have scored in all but one of their last five away matches in all competitions.

Looking ahead to the team news and Monaco could without Adama Traore, Diego Benaglio and Jorge who are all carrying injuries.  Radamel Falcao is doubtful and central defender Kamil Glik is suspended and the Pole will be a big miss at the back for the hosts.

Bordeaux are without midfielder Olivier Verdon and striker Alexandre Mendy who are both on the treatment table.  Malcolm is suspended and Bordeaux will miss the creative talents of the Brazilian forward.

Monaco will want to get back to winning ways following the draw with Toulouse last week and will believe they have what it takes to win maximum points.  There are always going to be goals when Monaco are involved and we should see over 2.5 goals scored in this game.