Two sides at opposing ends of the Ligue 1 table clash on Sunday when top-three-chasing Monaco host relegation-battling Lorient at the Stade Louis II.
The hosts are third heading into this game and three points above fourth-placed Lille, while the visitors are 15th in the table and only above the relegation places on goal difference.
Match preview
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A disappointing 2022-23 season saw Monaco finish outside the European places, but Adolf Hutter's side are now back in the fight this time around as they come into this game residing in the final qualification spot for the Champions League league stage.
They will not be able to allow any complacency to creep in though, with Lille, Lens, Nice and Marseille all within six points of the hosts moving into the final nine games of the season.
Monaco have lost just one of their last seven Ligue 1 games, a 2-1 defeat to Toulouse, when they bounced back from defeat by taking a crucial four points from matches against Lens and Paris Saint-Germain before beating Strasbourg in their previous outing.
The Red and Whites' home form has been rather poor throughout the duration of the season, winning just six of their games at the Stade Louis II this campaign while they have also failed to take three points from any of their last five encounters in front of their home crowd.
That poor record will have to improve against Lorient, who have managed to win all of their last three matches while playing on the road.
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Alongside those three away victories Lorient have also picked up four points at home against Le Havre and Reims within their previous seven outings, resulting in Regis Le Bris's side climbing out of the relegation zone ahead of this match.
This season has been somewhat of a disappointment for Les Merlus after they ended exactly mid-table last campaign with a 10th-placed finish.
Le Bris's side's main problem throughout this year has been their inability to keep the ball out of their net, conceding 47 goals in the 25 matches they have played this season, nine more than any other side in the league.
A result in this game could be vital for Lorient with their relegation rivals Nantes facing up against Strasbourg this week, which could leave Les Merlus back in the bottom three depending on the result.
Team News
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Monaco have a lengthy list of absentees coming into this tie, with Mohammed Salisu being the latest to join the treatment table with a hamstring injury.
Breel Embolo, Caio Henrique, Krepin Diatta and Mohamed Camara all remain out with injuries.
Vanderson and Ismail Jakobs returned to the squad in Monaco's last game against Strasbourg after both being sidelined for a month, and Hutter could opt to return to the wing-back pairing that served him so well earlier in the season.
Lorient are also without their fair share of players ahead of this game, with five players expected to be out with injury.
Benjamin Mendy has not made an appearance since the turn of the year, while Quentin Boisgard, Igor Silva, Bonke Innocent and Montassar Talbi all remain unavailable.
Le Bris will also be unable to pick Souleymane Isaak Toure due to suspension.
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Majecki; Singo, Maripan, Kehrer, Ouattara; Minamino, Zakaria, Fofana, Golovin; Balogun, Ben Yedder
Lorient possible starting lineup:
Mvogo; Adjei, Laporte, Mendy; Katseris, Abergel, Louza, Le Bris; Kari, Ponceau; Bamba
We say: Monaco 2-2 Lorient
Both sides will be desperate to get a result in this game as they find themselves in their own respective fights at opposing ends of the table.
Four of the last six matches between these teams have ended as draws, with each side taking one win apiece in the remaining two. We expect this game to follow the trend of recent tight affairs and equal results and end all square after 90 minutes.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
