AS Monaco will look to keep their recent resurgence going when they host Nice in a Ligue 1 clash at the Stade Louis II on Saturday.
Following a slow start to the campaign, Monaco have now racked up three victories in a row in all competitions, including a 1-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen on their return to Champions League action.
Their most recent outing provided the best result of the lot as they turned Montpellier over in their own back yard to move level on points with Rolland Courbis's side.
However, goals remain an issue for Monaco, with their four wins so far this season all coming by a 1-0 scoreline.
Their tally of 10 points from their opening seven matches is also a disappointing one for a side that finished second in the table last season, but there are certainly signs of improvement.
Perhaps the most pleasing one for Leonardo Jardim will be that his side have kept three clean sheets in a row having conceded six goals in their first two outings of the campaign.
The Portuguese manager will be without Anthony Martial, Seydou Sy, Aymen Abdennour and Borja Lopez through injury, but top scorer Dimitar Berbatov is once again expected to lead the line.
Nice, meanwhile, are also coming into this match on the back of an impressive victory having edged past Lille 1-0 on Wednesday.
Mathieu Bodmer's 41st-minute strike was enough to hand his side all three points, ensuring that only goal difference separates these two teams going into Saturday's clash.
Consistency has been a major issue for Claude Puel's side in recent times, however, and they will be aiming to pick up consecutive victories for the first time since March this weekend.
They are without a win in their last eight away matches, however, a run that also stretches back to March and includes six defeats.
Gautier Lloris, Dario Cvitanich and Joris Delle are all sidelined for the visitors, and Puel could opt to name an unchanged side to the one that beat Lille in midweek.
Recent form
Monaco: WWWLDW
Nice: WLWLLD
Possible starting lineups
Monaco: Subasic; Fabinho, Raggi, Carvalho, Kurzawa; Kondogbia, Toulalan, Silva, Moutinho, Ferreira Carrasco; Berbatov
Nice: Hassen; Paul, Genevois, Bodmer, Amavi; Mendy, Rafetraniaina; Eysseric, Eduardo, Bautheac; Bosetti
Sports Mole says: 2-0
Barney Corkhill
