Lyon vs Monaco Prediction & Betting Tips (24 August)

Author of a catastrophic start to the season last summer, Olympique Lyonnais seemed to be heading straight towards relegation to Ligue 2 which would have had a huge impact on the scale of French football. Fortunately for them, Les Gones were able to make the right choices by appointing Pierre Sage as head of the team and by being quite aggressive on the transfer market during the winter break. And after a particularly successful second part of the exercise, the Rhone residents achieved a small feat by snatching the final 6th place which will allow them to compete in the Europa League this season. This summer, the Lyonnais alternated between the good and the less good in preparation, notably with a major success over Union Berlin 0-4 and a defeat against Arsenal 2-0. Sunday evening, for their first official match, they completely missed the point by being punished by Stade Rennais 3-0.

For their part, AS Monaco is playing in a more serene climate which allows them to perform much better. Last year, the Rocher club established itself quite clearly as the best team in France behind PSG and it is logical that it took 2nd final place in the ranking, synonymous with qualification for the next Champions League. This season, Adi Hütter's players would even like to compete longer with the capital club in the race for the title and the dispositions displayed this summer have been encouraging with 3 successes obtained during their last 4 preparation matches. The Principality's players even outclassed FC Barcelona 0-3 on August 12 before winning by the narrowest of margins over AS Saint-Etienne during the first day of the championship.

Suspended during the trip to Rennes last week, the excellent Lacazette (19 goals last season in Ligue 1) will be back and he could even find his place in the 11 after the failed performance of rookie Mikautadze (Metz) in Brittany last Sunday. The Georgian in fact missed a penalty and he was unable to be precise in front of the Breton cage. Return also planned for Argentinian left-back Tagliafico who was also sanctioned on Sunday evening. On the other hand, Cherki could still be absent while defender Lovren does not seem to be part of Pierre Sage's plans. This summer, the side Brazilian Henrique (free), midfielder Lepenant (Nantes) and Irish defender O'Brien (Everton) left the capital of Gaul while Mangala (Nottingham Forest), Mama Baldé (Troyes), Caleta-Car (Southampton), Benrahma (West Ham) and Nuamah (Molenbeek) were permanently recruited after having already been loaned to the club last year. Also note the arrivals of left side Abner (Bétis) and central defender Niakhaté (Nottingham Forest) who was guilty of a big blunder on Rennes' 2nd goal on Sunday. Particularly effective during the 5 seasons he spent at the club with at least 16 goals scored, Wissam Ben Yedder left the Principality this summer. The Dutchman Boadu was loaned to Bochum while midfielders Camara (Al-Sadd), Lemaréchal (Strasbourg) and Fofana (AC Milan) also packed their bags.

German defender Kherer he was definitely recruited from West Ham after his 6 month of loan and the central defender Matsima (Clermont) and the midfielder Matazo (Royal Antwerp) are returning to the squad after being loaned last season. As usual, ASM offered the services of young talents like Mawissa (defender, Toulouse), Lamine Camara (Metz) and Ilenikhena (striker, Royal Antwerp). For their part, the Russian Golovin (6 goals, 6 passed last year), the Swiss internationals Zakaria and Embolo, the Japanese Minamino (9 goals, 6 assists), the American Balogun (7 goals, 5 assists) and the nugget Akliouche (7 goals, 4 assists) are still part of the squad. Hit in preparation, Golovin is missing along with the starting goalkeeper Majecki and the usual replacement Diatta. The starting defender Singo will be fit again after serving his suspension. Against the Greens, the light came from a very nice goal from the Japanese Minamino, author of a clever lob on Larsonneur.