MONACO – MARSEILLE | Sunday, 20:45
Fifteenth day of Ligue 1 closes with a bang, the last before the long break for the Qatar 2022 World Cup, which kicks off next Sunday. In the Principality there is an unmissable derby between Monaco and Marseille, two teams that have always been at the top of the transalpine league table and that today are trying, albeit with poor results, to interrupt the hegemony of Psg. In fact, today behind the Parisians there are two outsiders such as Lens and Rennes, while Philippe Clement’s and Igor Tudor’s men are respectively in fifth and fourth position, paired on 27 points together with Lorient. Of the two, the better-placed is the Monegasque side, who, after qualifying for the Europa League play-offs, placed fourth in Ligue 1 with two consecutive victories over Angers and Toulouse, both of which ended with their goals unbeaten.
Marseille, on the other hand, are trying to emerge from their first crisis, which cost them elimination from the Champions League. The former Verona coach had a sign last Sunday, when a goal from Gigot settled Lyon and gave the Provençal side the three points they had been missing since the match against Angers last September. It cannot be enough, however, to restore serenity in an environment where tension continues to cut into slices. Former United player Bailly will be absent from the Monaco game, while Clement will find Badiashile, a young defender followed by the continent’s most important clubs, on the other side.
Mbemba
The Prediction
MMonaco are more on the ball, but Marseille remain a top team, built to try and contend for the title against Psg and who may have finally broken free with last Sunday’s success against Lyon. It will be a balanced and probably very close match, as it has been in the last few matches. A draw in a match with at least one goal each cannot be ruled out.
M Monaco v Marseille likely line-up
- MONACO (4-4-2): Nübel; Vanderson, Disasi, Badiashile, Caio Henrique; Gelson Martins, Fofana, Camara, Golovin; Ben Yedder, Embolo.
- MARSEILLE (3-4-2-1): Pau Lopez; Mbemba, Gigot, Balerdi; Clauss, Rongier, Veretout, Nuno Tavares; Guendouzi, Harit; Alexis Sanchez.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-1
