Lille will welcome Monaco this Friday to Stade Pierre-Mauroy as both sides battle for three points in the 36th round of the 2021/22 Ligue 1 season.
Venue: Stade Pierre-Mauroy (Villeneuve d’Ascq)
Key Statistics
Lille have won just one of their last six games (two draws and three defeats).
The hosts have conceded as many goals between 31’-half-time (six) as they did in the entire second half of their home league games.
They have the worst goal difference for teams in the top ten, having scored 42 times and conceded 43 goals.
Monaco have won their last seven games.
The visitors have scored 2+ goals in six of their last seven games.
They are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions (W7, D1).
Head to head
Monaco have enjoyed the upper hand in fixtures involving both sides. The visitors have nine wins in their last 15 games against Lille. The hosts have just three wins in that period.
Latest performances in all competitions
Lille: L-W-L-L-D
Monaco: W-W-W-W-W
Lille
Lille will get back to winning ways when they welcome Monaco to Villeneuve d’Ascq on Friday.
The Ligue 1 defending champions have endured a miserable season, and come into this tie on the back of just one win in six games. By this time last year, they were in the midst of an eight-game unbeaten run of Ligue 1 games to close out their season and win the title.
But this season, the ‘Dogs’ have nothing but pride left to play for after picking up just 51 points from 35 games.
They come into this game on the back of a 3-0 loss to Troyes, leaving them in 10th position and out of touch with the European spots. They are currently nine points behind fourth-placed Nice with just three games to go.
Such a lowly position has led to a section of the fanbase calling for manager Jocelyn Gourvennec to resign. Such calls are likely to continue in this game and so Gourvennec will be desperate for his side to produce a winning performance to stave off some naysayers.
Possible Lille starting line-up
Léo Jardim, Zeji Celik, Jose Fonte, Sven Botman, Gabriel Gudmundsson; Edon Zhegrova, Benjamin André, Amadou Onana, Jonathan Bamba; Timothy Weah, Jonathan David.
Injured: Xeka
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Renato Sanches, Burak Yilmaz, Hatem Ben Arfa
Monaco
Unlike their hosts, Monaco are looking to keep their quest for a place in the UCL next season alive by picking up three points in this game.
The visitors are currently sitting in the third position, level on points with second-placed Marseille.
They are currently the league’s most in-form side, having won their last seven league games. With Marseille not in action till later in the weekend, Monaco could provisionally move into the top three if they secure an eighth straight league success for the first time since 2017.
Despite their dominant form, manager Philippe Clement has insisted his team have not reached their potential, and so will push hard for them to pick up their eighth win on the bounce.
Clement’s side are the favourites in this game and with nine wins in their last 15 games against Lille, they will be confident of getting a win although they are currently winless in three H2Hs (D2, L1).
Possible Monaco starting line-up
Alex Nubel; Vanderson, Guillermo Maripan, Benoit Badiashile, Caio Henrique; Youssouf Fofana, Aurélien Tchouaméni; Sofiane Diop, Kevin Volland, Aleksandr Golovin; Wissam Ben Yedder.
Injured: Cesc Fabregas
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Gelson Martins
Prediction
Lille 1-2 Monaco
