Monaco vs Lens Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
We have two of the teams that are pretenders to the Paris Saint-Germain throne as Monaco prepare to welcome a strong Lens side to Stade Louis II this week.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / US – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Ligue 1 pass / US – beIN Sports Connect
Monaco preview: Back on track
Over the October international break, Monaco replaced Adi Hutter with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise boss Sebastien Pocognoli and the Monegasque have been getting good results, bouncing back from a defeat to Paris at home last week.
Monaco headed to the Arctic Circle in midweek to defeat Norwegian champions Bodo/Glimt by a goal to nil at the Aspmyra Stadion, courtesy of a 43rd minute winner scored by United States international striker Folarin Balogun.
Lens preview: Dip in form
Following the appointment of former Olympique Lyonnais boss Pierre Sage over the summer, Lens have been strong at the start of this season but the northerners have suffered a recent dip in form of late.
After a shock defeat to rock-bottom and then winless Metz side about ten days or so ago, Lens the managed to defeat Lorient by three goals to nil at Stade Bollaert-Delelis last weekend, albeit they were unconvincing throughout that performance.
Monaco team news: Lots of issues
Monaco are dealing with lots of issues for this one as Ansu Fati is a doubt due to illness, whilst the likes of Paul Pogba, Lamine Camara and Denis Zakaria remain unavailable.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Kohn; Caio Henrique, Kehrer, Salisu; Stanis Idumbo, Teze, Coulibaly, Ouattara; Akliouche, Golovin; Biereth
Unavailable: Hradecky (Injured), Mawissa (Injured), Camara (Injured), Zakaria (Injured), Pogba (Fitness)
Questionable: Dier (Injured), Vanderson (Injured), Diatta (Injured), Ansu Fati (Illness)
Lens team news: Fully fit
Lens have a fully fit and available squad for this weekend’s trip to the principality of Monaco and so they will be able to name an unchanged eleven for this one.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Risser; Gradit, Baidoo, Sarr; Aguilar, Sangare, Thomasson, Udol; Thauvin, Said; Edouard
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Monaco vs Lens prediction
Monaco have often been one of the most entertaining teams to watch in Europe but they have tried to become more difficult to beat under Pocognoli, albeit they did recently defeat Nantes by five goals to three at Stade de la Beaujoire. Lens head to the principality knowing they are in some shaky form at the moment and so they may not be the most proactive here. As a result, this may not be a thriller for the neutral.
Monaco vs Lens tip: Under 2.5 goals
