The Ligue 1 title race is heating up as league leaders Monaco welcome second-placed Lille to the Stade Louis II on Friday night.
Monaco have loved a blistering begin to the season and at the moment sit high of the desk, however Lille have additionally been in spectacular kind and can be eyeing an upset to shut the hole on the summit.
Match Preview
Monaco have been the shock package deal in Ligue 1 thus far this time period, racing out of the blocks to ascertain a two-point cushion over champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Beneath the steering of Adi Hutter, the principality membership have gained six of their opening seven league matches, dropping factors solely in a 2-2 draw with Strasbourg.
Their most up-to-date outing noticed them grind out a hard-fought 2-1 victory away at Rennes, highlighting the resilience inside this Monaco squad.
Lille, in the meantime, have additionally made a powerful begin to the marketing campaign and can be keen to put down a marker towards the league leaders.
After a tough run of 4 straight defeats in late August and mid-September, Bruno Genesio’s facet have bounced again impressively, beating Le Havre and Toulouse earlier than pulling off a shocking 1-0 overcome Actual Madrid within the Champions League.
The guests will take nice confidence from that European triumph as they purpose to shut the hole on Monaco on the high.
Head to Head
Monaco and Lille have met on 44 earlier events in Ligue 1, with the head-to-head document closely skewed in favour of the house facet.
Monaco have gained 26 of these conferences, whereas Lille have emerged victorious simply 9 instances.
The final time the 2 groups confronted off on the Stade Louis II, it was Monaco who got here out on high, securing a 1-0 victory again in April.
Workforce Information
Adi Hutter can be with out the providers of Edan Diop, who stays sidelined with a damaged leg, whereas Folarin Balogun and Mohammed Salisu are additionally unavailable resulting from harm.
There are additionally doubts over the health of captain Denis Zakaria, who missed worldwide responsibility with Switzerland in the course of the latest break.
On the plus facet, Vanderson and Takumi Minamino must be accessible regardless of their long-haul travels with their respective nationwide groups.
For Lille, Benjamin Andre is suspended after choosing up a warning of their earlier league outing towards Toulouse.
Hakon Arnar Haraldsson, Ismaily and Samuel Umtiti are all sidelined by way of harm, whereas the health of star striker Jonathan David can be intently monitored after he featured for Canada within the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Prediction
This has all of the makings of an exciting encounter between two of Ligue 1’s in-form sides. Monaco’s spectacular residence document, mixed with their blistering begin to the season, makes them the favourites to emerge victorious.
Nevertheless, Lille have proven they’ll produce large performances on the highway, as evidenced by their overcome Actual Madrid, and can be no pushovers.
I count on a decent, closely-contested affair, however finally consider Monaco’s high quality and residential benefit will see them edge this one.
Betting Suggestions
I fancy Monaco to win this sport, however I additionally suppose Lille will pose a major risk and will discover the web.
Subsequently, I might advocate backing Monaco to win and each groups to attain because the most secure betting possibility.
When it comes to the whole objectives, I consider this match might see over 2.5 objectives, given the attacking prowess of either side, however I wouldn’t be stunned to see a extra cagey affair with beneath 2.5 objectives.
