Monaco v Lyon
Sunday 24th February 2000rs
Football – France – Ligue 1
Pick Over 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Unibet
Odds: 7/10 (odds taken 21.00 GMT, Saturday 23d February)
PSG continue to dominate Ligue 1, leaving everybody else in their wake. Both Monaco and Lyon would have hoped to put more pressure on them in the race for the title, but they’re now in need for points for very different reasons from their clash on Sunday.
Monaco Preview
It has been a calamitous season for Monaco both off and on the pitch. A slow start to proceedings meant that the club elected to replace Leonardo Jardim as head coaching after a very successful four years in charge and replace him with a club and national legend in Thierry Henry. Henry’s appoint from the off was a disaster and he left the club within a few months to be swapped with…the man he took over from. There have been numerous spats with directors and owners in between all of that but Jardim’s return has certainly stabilised things on the park of late. Monaco have now pulled themselves out of the relegation zone and are a couple of points above the bottom three heading in their game on Sunday evening. Crucial home wins over Nantes and Toulouse have come either side of a hard-earned points away to high-flying Montpellier so the signs are there that they are on the right track once again. The visit of Lyon is another big test, however, but they face it with a lot more confidence that would have been the case a month ago.
Lyon Preview
Whilst Lyon have not had the same level of problems or issues that their weekend opponents have faced this season, there has been plenty of fallouts in their own camp, too – most notably between head coach Bruno Genesio and some of their stat players. There was a period earlier in the season where it was affecting results and performances but the situation seems to have improved and Lyon are becoming more consistent as a result. Genesio’s men travel to Monte Carlo on Sunday in third spot but are five points behind Lille who occupy the second automatic Champions League qualification spot. That is undoubtedly the aim for Lyon who, on Tuesday, drew the first leg of their last-16 tie 0-0 with Barcelona in this year’s competition. It looks like being a straight shootout with Lille for second spot and with that rival dropping points on Friday, it has provided an opportunity to narrow the gap on them. A visit to Monaco is never easy of course but Lyon will take confidence from having won four of their last give in Ligue 1.
Key-Facts – Monaco v Lyon
- Monaco have shown improvement since Jardim return as head coach and are unbeaten in their last three
- Lyon will be looking for three points to close the gap on Lille in second spot
- The last six meetings between these two have had three or more goals scored in each
Monaco v Lyon Betting Preview
Looking at this fixture you would expect and assume it was a game between two teams challenging at the top end of the table but Monaco are now only concerned with ensuring they remain in the French top division after their trials this campaign. It’s looking more likely that will be the case but there are challenges ahead and this is certainly one of them. Lyon will be boosted by Lille dropping a couple of points in their own match but that will only count for something if they are able to take advantage and grabbing a crucial three points on the road.
Lyon proved to be far too good for Monaco when the teams back in the middle of December, running out 3-0 winners. We can expect a much close encounter on Sunday, though, with Jardim beginning to stamp his authority on the team once again. Monaco had not won a home game in the league until the Portuguese coach return last month and he has won two in a row. Lyon are relatively strong on their travels, however, and have lost only one of their last eight. This is one of the highest scoring fixtures in French football and that’s the angle I think is worth taking on Sunday. The last six meetings have all had at least three goals in them and five of Monaco’s last seven matches in all competitions have also went over 2.5 goals. With a draw not really all that good for either team it looks set to be a very offensive match-up with both teams looking for the win.
