Monaco vs Marseille

One of the most enthralling match-ups in Ligue 1 this weekend pits Monaco and Marseille at the Stade Louis II. 

Monaco’s quest to lock down a place in next season’s Champions League took a hit last weekend as a 2-1 defeat at Brest knocked them down from a four-game unbeaten run (W3, D1), allowing fourth-placed Strasbourg to whittle down the gap to only one point. Despite that setback, head coach Adi Hutter remains positive as ‘Los Monégasques’ return to the Stade Louis II, where they’ve won their last five league matches whilst netting an outstanding 19 goals. A sixth win on the trot would get them back on track, but the hosts must be wary of an ominous run of four defeats from their last six home meetings with upcoming rivals Marseille in second (W2). It’s also worth noting that they slumped to a 2-1 defeat in December’s reverse fixture, highlighting the magnitude of the task awaiting them this weekend.

In the meantime, visiting Marseille are on the verge of securing their best Ligue 1 placing since 2021/22 – a stark improvement on last season’s dismal eighth-place finish. Roberto De Zerbi’s charges beat Toulouse 3-2 last weekend to stem the bleeding after a three-game losing streak and move two points clear of Monaco pre-round. Though only champions PSG have won more away league matches than Marseille’s nine this season (L5), Les Olympiens take this trip amid a three-game losing streak on the road for the first time since suffering

four defeats on the spin in November 2023. Furthermore, the visitors have lost three of their four away league matches against sides starting this round in the top six (W1).