Sports Mole reviews Saturday’s Ligue 1 match between Strasbourg and Monaco, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Monaco will look to bounce back from a faltering domestic run when they travel to Strasbourg Castle at Stade de la Minaau in Ligue 1 on Saturday.
Adi Hutter’s side have lost two games in a row in France, but another win in Europe has them on course for a top-eight finish in the Champions League league stage.
Preview the match
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Ahead of the November international break after this set of matches, Monaco’s form in Ligue 1 has declined since returning from the last break in October.
After taking 19 points out of a possible 21 to start the season, Monaco are now winless in three matches thanks to a combination of poor discipline and a clear loss of confidence, and have since fallen from first to third in the standings.
A 0-0 draw at home to Lille left them needing to hold on after Jordan Teese’s red card, while Vanderson’s sending off a week later in Nice saw them lose 2-1 after initially leading.
Monaco managed to keep 11 men on the field last Friday, but suffered an inexplicable defeat at home to Angers, with Hutter criticizing his side for their lack of pace and innovation as they suffered the most surprising defeat of any team in Ligue 1. far.
Paris Saint-Germain quickly overtook Monaco and have since opened a six-point gap over the team from the principality, while also overtaking Marseille on goal difference after beating Nantes.
The visitors should take confidence from their continued excellent form in the Champions League, with Thilo Kehrer’s late header sealing a 1-0 win over Bologna at Dallara in midweek.
With this victory, Monaco moved to third place with 10 points, a tally that many expectations indicate will be enough to ensure qualification to the knockout rounds.
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Next up is Strasbourg, the team with Monaco completing the league double in the last two seasons, with two narrow wins at this ground after a run of four matches without a win between 2018 and 2022, in which they lost on three occasions.
Strasbourg have been extremely impressive at home this season, ranking as one of the best teams in the league in terms of home points.
Liam Rosenior’s men are one of just three clubs unbeaten at home in Ligue 1, along with Paris Saint-Germain and Nice, taking 11 points from their five matches at La Minaau so far – including a win over second-placed Marseille. .
The home side will be keen to return to familiar surroundings, especially after a disappointing 2-0 defeat on the road to struggling Saint-Etienne last week – the first match in which the Alsace club has failed to score this season.
Despite picking up just two points away from home so far, Strasbourg are still certainly among the clubs aiming to reach Europe, sitting in ninth place heading into the weekend, just two points outside the top seven.
Strasbourg Ligue 1 format:
Monaco French League 1 format:
Monaco lineup (all competitions):
Team news
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Strasbourg’s Marvin Sinaia has served a one-match ban, but an ankle injury means he will remain out of contention for this match.
There are no new injury concerns for Rosenior, with Emmanuel Emega, Alaa Belarouche, Thomas Delin and Moise Sahi Dion still out of the squad.
Monaco coach Hutter was perhaps guilty of being too attacking in the defeat to Angers, as he named five attacking players in his line-up, as well as winger Crepin Diatta at right-back.
The return of both Vanderson and Tese from suspension in defense will allow the Monaco coach to select a more balanced team here, as he was able to do in Bologna.
Mohammed Salisu and Folarin Balogun remain on the bench for the visitors, while Denis Zakaria is also likely to miss out, as the Switzerland international has been suffering from a muscle problem on and off over the past month.
Strasbourg possible lineup:
Petrovic; do, su, sar; Pacoa, Doucoure, Andre Santos, Diego Moreira; Diarra, Mara, Nanase
Possible Monaco lineup:
Magicy. Vanderson, Singo, Kerrer, Caio Henrique; Magasa, Camara; Akliush, Golovin, Ben Saghir; Embolo
We say: Strasbourg 2-2 Monaco
Monaco remain in the top three and in good form on the continent, but need to get back on track domestically, and that will be a difficult task against a team still unbeaten at home.
After defeat on the road last week, Strasbourg will feel more secure with the comforts of home here, and will fancy themselves getting something, as they did against Marseille.
To analyze data on most likely scores, scores and more for this match, please click here.
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