Lorient vs Monaco prediction: FRANCE: Ligue 1 betting tips on match 2023-09-16 11:00.
After an indifferent start to the Ligue 1 season (W1, D2, L1), Lorient are looking for inspiration to kick them on a little. The long awaited, and widely scrutinised return of Benjamin Mendy could provide just that, with the former Manchester City man, who was charged and subsequently cleared of criminal activity in the UK, in line to make his Lorient debut here almost two months on from when he signed.
Lorient will hope he can help out a defence which has kept just a sole clean sheet in Ligue 1 so far this season, but the fact that came at the home of reigning champions PSG should inspire them a little. A dismal recent record in home H2Hs against Monaco certainly won’t boost confidence (W1, D1, L4), but having had the international break to recover from a 3-0 drubbing against newly-promoted Le Havre, Lorient should be ready to defend their three-match unbeaten home Ligue 1 streak (W2, D1).
Top of the pile after four rounds (W3, D1), it looks like it’ll take something special to stop Monaco at the moment. The convincing nature of those performances has been a sight to behold, as each of those four games has seen Monaco net at least three times, making them just the tenth side in Ligue 1 history to open a campaign having scored at least three goals in their first four games.
As such, no other team in the top-five European leagues had scored more goals this season than Monaco prior to the international break, while their eight different goalscorers this term was also a high across those leagues. It has therefore been a dream start to life as Monaco boss for Adi Hütter, but he’s keen to see his side “continue to develop in this direction” as they bid to at least secure a first top-two finish since 2017/18.
Players to watch: Romain Faivre opened the scoring against Monaco whilst playing for Brest in 2020/21, and he has curiously won both his personal home H2Hs against the Monégasques ‘to nil’. Monaco’s Takumi Minamino may have something to say about that record, especially as he seeks to maintain his proud record of being the only player to score or assist in all four Ligue 1 games this season.
Hot stat: Lorient have conceded exactly once in five of their last six home Ligue 1 games.