Monaco aims to temporarily secure the second spot in Ligue 1 as they face Lyon at Stade Louis II on matchday 16.
The recent 2-1 victory over Rennes puts Monaco within touching distance of Nice, while Lyon, despite a 3-0 win against Toulouse, remains at the bottom of the league table.
Match Preview
Monaco has bounced back this month with a 100% record after a challenging end to November. Adi Hutter has steered the team to 30 points after 15 Ligue 1 matches, hinting at a promising season ahead based on historical benchmarks.
Monaco’s home performances have been particularly strong, winning six out of seven games at Stade Louis II this season.
However, defensively, they’ve shown vulnerability in the late stages of matches, conceding goals beyond the 90th minute in some instances.
Lyon, on the other hand, secured their first home win of the season under interim coach Pierre Sage. Despite the win, they sit at the bottom of the table and are in dire need of points to climb out of the relegation zone.
Lyon faces a tough challenge as they are yet to secure any points against top-half teams this season. Their defensive frailties have been evident, conceding six goals in their last two away games and registering the second-most goals conceded this season (27).
Team News
Monaco will miss Vanderson and Aleksandr Golovin due to suspensions. Injuries to Eliesse Ben Seghir, Myron Boadu, and Eliot Matazo will also keep them out of the squad.
Lyon will be without Johann Lepenant due to a knee sprain, while Remy Riou is dealing with a muscle injury.
Possible Lineups
Monaco: (3-4-2-1)
Kohn;
Singo, Maripan, Zakaria;
Diatta, Fofana, Camara, Jakobs;
Minamino, Akliouche;
Balogun
Lyon: (3-4-3)
Lopes;
O’Brien, Sarr, Caleta-Car;
Mata, Tolisso, Caqueret, Tagliafico;
Moreira, Lacazette, Cherki
Prediction: Monaco 2-0 Lyon
Despite missing Golovin, Monaco holds a defensive edge against an inconsistent Lyon side. With Monaco’s better defensive solidity and Lyon’s lack of consistent quality, Monaco is likely to secure a comfortable win at home.
