Monaco vs Lyon prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-12-14 20:00.
The Adi Hütter revolution may have Monaco fans dreaming of lifting the Ligue 1 title for the first time since 2016/17, but the players are trying not to get too carried away with things. A 2-1 victory over Rennes in their last match left the Red and Whites just six points behind league leaders PSG, but midfielder Youssouf Fofana insists his team-mates are not focusing on the table.
It’s hard for supporters not to get excited by the remarkable turnaround under new boss Hütter though, given he took charge after a disappointing sixth place finish in 2022/23, and has gone on to win nine of his 15 top flight fixtures (D3, L3). He has also helped turn Stade Louis II into a fortress once again, with no side in the division registering a better points per game average at home than Monaco’s 2.57 (W6, L1).
They will be confident of continuing that run against a Lyon side in turmoil. They currently sit bottom of the division and are already on their third manager of the season, with academy coach Pierre Sage the latest to take the reins, although only on an interim basis. He did at least mastermind a 3-0 victory over Toulouse in his third game in charge last time out (L2), just their second league victory of the season (D4, L9).
There is still plenty of work to be done to ensure the seven-time French champions keep the spot they have held in Ligue 1 since 1989/90 though, given they are three points from safety. Worryingly, ‘Les Gones’ have also lost their last two away fixtures, conceding three goals in each outing, but history gives them some hope they could end that run against Monaco, whom they have beaten in five of the last seven league H2Hs (L2), although Lyon haven’t been this low in the top-flight table after 15 rounds since 1979/80.
Key battle: Monaco’s Wissam Ben Yedder loves playing against Lyon, netting 11 goals in just 18 H2Hs (W6, D3, L9). That’s a daunting record for visiting goalkeeper Anthony Lopes, who has managed only one clean sheet in his last nine away games (W3, L6).
Hot stat: Monaco are the only team in Ligue 1 with a 100% record from matches in which they have scored first, winning six times out of six when they have gone 1-0 up.