Monaco vs Lens Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
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Monaco have started the campaign well as the Monegasque now welcome an entertaining Lens side to Stade Louis II down in the principality on Friday.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – beIN Sports
How to watch online: UK – Amazon Prime PPV & Ligue 1+ / USA – beIN Sports Connect
Monaco preview: Impressive Monaco
Following the appointment of former Flamengo boss Filipe Luis, Monaco have started the campaign with five victories and a draw in their six matches across all competitions and they are one of three teams sitting at the top of Ligue 1 on ten points.
Monaco won their opening three matches domestically before they rescued a point against Strasbourg at Stade de la Meinau last weekend, courtesy of a 71st minute equaliser scored by young German striker Paris Brunner.
Lens preview: Entertaining Lens
Pierre Sage led Lens to second in Ligue 1 last season before his departure for Crystal Palace and he has been replaced by former Eintracht Frankfurt boss Dino Toppmoller, who is known for his entertaining style of football.
Lens’ four matches in France’s top-flight have consisted of 15 goals as the northerners come into this one on the back of fighting back from 2-0 down to share a 2-2 draw with newly-promoted Le Mans away from home last weekend.
Monaco team news: Fresh injuries
Monaco are dealing with some fresh injury concerns for this one with Jordan Teze and Mamadou Coulibaly are sidelined while Ansu Fati is working his way back from a calf injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hradecky; Vanderson, Dier, Sane, Nazinho; Camara, Zakaria; Stanis Idumbo, Golovin, Detourbet; Brunner
Unavailable: Teze (Injured), Soubeir (Injured), Coulibaly (Injured)
Questionable: Ansu Fati (Fitness), Balogun (Fitness)
Lens team news: Ganiou a doubt
Pierre Ganiou is now a doubt for Lens this weekend due to a pelvic injury, while Yacine Titraoui and Saudi Arabia international defender Saud Abdulhamid are working their way back to full fitness.
Predicted XI (3-4-1-2): Risser; Gradit, Antonio, Udol; Aguilar, Cuisance, Bulatovic, Skoras; Thauvin; Sima, Edouard
Unavailable: Baidoo (Injured), Nawrocki (Injured), Jhoanner Chavez (Injured)
Questionable: Abdulhamid (Fitness), Ganiou (Injured), Titraoui (Fitness)
Monaco vs Lens prediction
Lens’ four games consisting of 15 goals does not include kicking off their UEFA Champions League league phase campaign with a 2-2 draw against Slavia Prague in the Czech capital city last week. Lens are expected to be fun to watch basically throughout the campaign and Monaco themselves appear to be naturally proactive under Filipe Luis and so both teams scoring seems a decent bet for this one on Friday.
Monaco vs Lens tip: Both teams to score
