Monaco Takes on Lyon in Ligue 1 Derby of the South
Published October 13, 2017 by Florin P
Monaco tries to extend Lyon’s winless streak when the two teams meet on Friday at Groupama Stadium (7:45 p.m UK Time).
Monaco has lost three precious points against Montpellier before the break caused by the World Cup qualifications. They now need to recuperate those points on the road against Lyon, if they are to stay within striking distance of PSG. The team has suffered offensively after some key players departed midseason, but is still capable of scoring goals both at home and on the road. Meanwhile, the hosts are mired in a lengthy winless streak and have conceded a high number of goals.
Major Defensive Concerns for Lyon
In the last three games played in Ligue 1, Lyon allows a total of six goals despite playing against some of the weakest teams. Having home pitch advantage should’ve helped, but the most the hosts have managed to achieve was to have superior ball possession. Against Monaco they may need to take more chances if they are to score, which will expose them to vicious counter attacks.
Three players are injured and likely to miss this fixture, all of them being midfielders. This means that the transition from defense to offense will be more difficult and the hosts can be easily caught on the back foot. Even so, Lyon can’t afford to play it safe and you need to push from the first minute.
Pressure Mounting on Monaco
Winning the championship last season brought a lot of joy to the fans, but this year things are not going according to the plan. Without some key players Monaco is struggling in all competitions and is likely to suffer an untimely elimination from the Champions League.
For the visitors, this is a match of extraordinary importance against a team that has caused them a lot of problems in the past. Punters can take advantage of even odds offered by bet365 Sports on Monaco to win and have the stakes returned if the match results in a draw.
