Monaco Chases Vital Points Against Reeling Montpellier
Published October 21, 2016 by Florin P
Nothing short of victory would help appease Monaco fans after the unnerving defeat against Toulouse last week (7:45 p.m UK Time).
For one month starting mid-August, Monaco won seven games in a row and took the lead in Ligue 1. Since then, they were unable to win back-to-back games in any competition and this is taking its toll on team performance. The Champions League performance leaves a lot to be desired and they’re on the verge of slipping off the podium in the domestic championship. What they need is a home win against Montpellier on Friday evening.
Busy Schedule for Monaco Recently
The home side is undefeated in the most prestigious European competition, after splitting points in the first two games. They managed to score at least once in all of the recent games, but suffered a humiliating defeat against Toulouse last round. This should prompt them to play offensive football from start to finish, so their opponents won’t have a chance to react.
There are a couple of concerns regarding the fitness of key players, including striker Falcao. He spent so much time on the bench last season that it’s not exactly a surprise that he is doubtful ahead of this fixture. With him in the first 11, Monaco would have a better chance but it’s possible for the Colombian to enter the pitch in the second half.
Defensive Concerns for Montpellier
The visitors are playing odd football for the French first division, emphasizing the importance of scoring goals and sacrificing the defense. They avoided defeat in the last two games but still conceded five goals, which doesn’t bode well ahead of this fixture.
Monaco has defeated Metz on the road two weeks ago and scored seven goals. They are well capable of scoring a handful against Montpellier if the visitors take more chances upfront. That’s why punters can give them full credit at odds of 4/5 offered by bet365 Sports to win.
