Monaco to win in battle of the underperformers
Club football returns to France on Friday evening at the Stade Louis II when principality outfit AS Monaco take on last season's surprise champions LOSC Lille under the floodlights. Both sides have had thoroughly disappointing starts to life in Ligue 1 this term, sitting 11th and 12th respectively with a third of the campaign gone. Read our preview here:
Nico's underground
Naturally, both head coaches are under severe pressure to turn things around as quickly as possible. Niko Kovač led ASM to a very respectable third placed finish in his first year in charge during 2020/2021, but has struggled thus far to look like matching that achievement. On Friday evening, he'll be without the influential figure of Aleksandar Golovin, who will join Benoît Badiashile in the stands whilst the duo serve their suspension for bookings accumulated. Kevin Volland could be moved back up front to partner skipper Wissam Ben Yedder in a reshuffling of the pack to cope with the enforced absences. Keeping clean sheets has been a struggle for the hosts, not helped by a 4-4-2 shape that emphasises wing play first and foremost.
Bot a problem
Defensive duo Sven Botman and José Fonte remain at least a fortnight away from a return to the first team in a squad struggling to cope with the necessary departures of key players in the summer despite winning the title. Manager Jocelyn Gourvennec already looks to be on borrowed time without a swift improvement, in spite of the toned down expectations under him. Goalkeeper Leo Jardim is also struggling, so Atlético Madrid loanee and Croatian international Ivo Grbić will continue to deputise in his place. Les Dogues' will largely mirror their opponents, but the evergreen Burak Yılmaz will need to break his goalless streak of half a dozen games if he's to remain in the XI leading the line alongside the red-hot Jonathan David.
David's against all odds
The aforementioned David is top scorer in domestic competition this season, and has played a huge part in putting national side Canada on the brink of their first World Cup this century. Even so, more is required from the defence and midfield, the latter in terms of goalscoring contribution. Monaco, despite their own woes, have been excellent at home this season, so odds of 2.14 with Casumo appears to be a solid choice.
