Monaco can extend their winning run in Ligue 1 to three matches when they host Metz on Sunday at Stade Louis II in the Principality.
Heading into this encounter, Les Monegasques are two points behind Nice for first in the top-flight table but with a game in hand, winning their previous fixture 3-1 over Reims, while Les Grenats are in early relegation danger, a point above that playoff line after losing their previous encounter versus Nice, 1-0.
Match preview
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Following a speedbump in their home defeat versus arch-rivals Nice on matchday six, it seems like Monaco are back on track, winning consecutive contests to climb back into the early lead in the French top-flight this season.
Since failing to find the mark versus Nice (1-0 loss), the Monegasques attack have found their form again, scoring three goals in each of their previous two victories against Marseille (3-2) and Reims.
In his first foray as a Ligue 1 manager, Adi Hutter has enjoyed some early success, particularly in attack, where his side lead the league regarding goals scored (21).
With 17 points after eight domestic fixtures, it is their highest tally to this stage of a top-flight campaign since 2017-18 (19) when they wound up second, and with a victory this weekend, Les Monegasques can reach the 20-point plateau after nine league games for the first time since 2013-14 (21) when they also came in second.
Their current two-match winning run may not seem like a lot, but this team failed to win consecutive league contests under former manager Philippe Clement last season between March and June.
They have had their way with Metz in the top flight of late, beating them 12 of the previous 13 times that the sides have squared off, which is as many victories as they managed in their last 37 meetings against them.
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Eight matches into their return to the top flight, and Metz once again find themselves near the bottom of the Ligue 1 table, having lost three successive domestic encounters.
That poor start has put a lot of pressure on manager Laszlo Boloni as his side have failed to find the back of the net in each of their previous three league defeats, with the third-fewest goals scored this season (seven).
Should they fail to net on Sunday, it would equal their longest stretch without a goal in the French top flight, losing four straight on two previous occasions from August to September 2001 and between October and November 1945.
One positive they have going for them heading into this weekend is that their only two domestic victories this season came away from home, while they have conceded in only one of their three away fixtures this season (3-0 loss versus Toulouse).
Seven of their eight points claimed up to this stage of the domestic campaign have come when scoring the opening goal.
Metz have never lost in 2023-24 when leading in the second half, while they have not picked up a single point when behind after 45 minutes.
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Team News
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Les Monegasques could be without Mohammed Salisu due to a groin strain, Eliesse Ben Seghir has a sore thigh, Caio Henrique is not expected to return this season because of an ACL injury, while Vanderson will not be back until November due to a sprained knee.
Soungoutou Magassa missed their previous encounter through suspension, while Denis Zakaria will have to sit out after picking up another yellow card in their last encounter.
After missing two penalty kicks in their defeat to Nice, Folarin Balogun seems to have bounced back with a goal in back-to-back league contests, including the winner against his former club the last time out, with Ismail Jakobs and Wissam Ben Yedder also finding the mark versus Reims, as the latter is currently tied for second in goals (five), two fewer than ex-Monaco striker Kylian Mbappe heading into this weekend.
As many as three Metz players might be unavailable on Sunday, including Maxime Colin and Habib Maiga, who are both suffering from calf strains, while Benjamin Tetteh could be out because of a muscle injury.
Since selling the top goalscorer in Ligue 2 last season, Georges Mikautadze, to Ajax in the Eredivisie, they have struggled in the attacking third, with their top contributor being Cheikh Sabaly, who has two goals.
Joel Asoro was the last player to find the back of the net for them in a domestic contest when his 37th-minute strike against Lens gave them a 1-0 triumph, on a night when Alexandre Oukidja stopped 10 shots to collect a clean sheet.
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Kohn; Singo, Maripan, Matisma; Minamino, Fofana, M. Camara, Jakobs; Golovin; Ben Yedder, Balogun
Metz possible starting lineup:
Oukidja; Kouao, Traore, Cande, Udol; N'Duquidi, Atta; Asoro, L. Camara, Diallo; Estupinan
We say: Monaco 3-0 Metz
Metz have suffered 16 defeats versus Monaco in Ligue 1 this century, and they will be up against a side brimming with confidence who have had virtually no trouble finding the back of the net in this competition.
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