DID YOU KNOW?
If Monaco lose, they will certainly suffer their fourth relegation from France’s top flight. A draw could be enough to keep them up if results elsewhere go their way, but victory would assure them a place at the top table.
Les Monegasques are unbeaten at home against teams in the top seven slots in the standings.
Their record at the Stade Louis II is rated on 16th in the league, with only five victories from 18 matches this season.
The first goal will be vital; Monaco have not lost after scoring first at home this term, but they’ve equally not come from behind to win.
Should relegation become a reality, it would be a sad way to mark the club’s 2000th top flight game.
Lyon know that victory would secure them third, while a draw would also likely be good enough.
Away from the Stade Gerland, OL’s form is poor, with no wins in their last five – their worst such run since 2007-08.
In the second half of games, Puel’s side have been especially vulnerable, conceding 70 per cent of their goals after the interval.
Les Gones, however, are unbeaten in seven Championnat matches against their hosts.
The last time Lyon finished outside the top three in France was 1998-99.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Monaco (4-2-3-1)
Chabbert; Bonnat, Puygrenier, Hansson, Adriano; Gosso, Nkoulou; Moukandjo, Coutadeur, Malonga; Park
Selection problems plague the home side at the worst possible time. Stephane Ruffier has been unable to overcome the problem he picked up last weekend, while Mahamadou Diarra is omitted from the squad. Promising Nigerian midfielder Lukman Haruna is banned.
There are several long-term problems, including Djimi Traore and Moussa Maazou, while a number of short-term issues exist, the most punishing of which in regards to this weekend’s match is Vincent Muratori.
Lyon (4-3-3)
Lloris, Reveillere, Cris, Diakhate, Cissokho; Pjanic, Toulalan, Kallstrom; Delgado, Lisandro, Ederson
Claude Puel has a number of selection headaches approaching this encounter, with Dejan Lovren still banned from the heart of his defence and Yoann Gourcuff looking extremely likely to be missing from the heart of the midfield once more. Striker Bafetimbi Gomis is also sidelined.
Though OL could not do better than a 0-0 draw against Caen last weekend, a similar line-up is expected.
Prediction
Though Monaco start this match in the relegation zone, it would be little surprise to see defensively-minded coach Laurent Banide adopt a wait-and-see approach early on, patient for developments elsewhere. Solid at the back, the hosts will be difficult to breakdown, and given Lyon’s wretched away form, it’s tough to predict an away win. This game will likely end squad, but Monaco will gain safety and Lyon will earn third, keeping everyone happy.
AS Monaco FC 1-1 O. Lyon 
