Monaco vs Marseille – News and Probable Lineups

In-form Mônaco continue their pursuit of a top-three position as they host fellow Champions League contenders Marseille at Stade Louis II in a highly anticipated match this Sunday.

The Principality club currently sits sixth in the Ligue 1 standings, trailing their visitors in third place by three points, with just seven games remaining.

Match overview

The competition for a place in Ligue 1’s top three has become more intense as the season nears its end, with at least five clubs vying for third. Only five points separate Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Mônaco, and Rennes.

After a string of inconsistent performances, the Principality club has turned things around, winning their last six league matches—no other team has managed such a flawless streak in the division.

The latest outing for Mônaco resulted in a 2-1 victory against Lyon, with second-half goals from Maghnes Akliouche and Folarin Balogun ensuring a comeback win that showcased their attacking prowess.

Under the guidance of Sebastien Pocognoli, Mônaco has found the net at least twice in each of their last eight games across all competitions, with the only matches they did not secure victory in that run occurring in both legs of their Champions League playoff round exit at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

A win this weekend would not only bolster Mônaco’s ambitions for a return to European competition but also mark their seventh consecutive top-flight victory, an achievement they have only reached three times in their history.

The Red and Whites will have confidence heading into this match, having won all four of their previous home league games, and they will hope that this trend continues as they aim to extend their winning streak following the international break.

On the other hand, Marseille arrives seeking to bounce back from a 2-1 loss to Lille at Stade Velodrome a fortnight ago, a match that saw their top scorer Mason Greenwood exit early due to injury after just 18 minutes.

Ethan Nwaneri, who came on to replace Greenwood, appeared to have given Les Phoceens a lifeline with a first-half goal, but they later conceded a late winner to former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud after Thomas Meunier levelled the score.

This defeat marked Marseille’s second loss in five league encounters since Habib Beye took over from current Tottenham Hotspur manager Roberto De Zerbi, with the club also being eliminated from the Coupe de França at home by Toulouse.

A return to away fixtures offers some optimism for the Olympians, who achieved a clean sheet victory in their last away outing, although conceding at least two goals in each of the five prior away matches highlights the defensive issues they need to address.

Moreover, Marseille has lost all five away matches this season against teams currently within the top seven, and their trips to Mônaco have generally not yielded positive results, suffering defeats in nine of their last 14 competitive visits (W4, D1).

Nonetheless, Les Phoceens can draw encouragement from their earlier 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture this season, which gives them the opportunity to achieve a league double in this encounter for the first time since the 2007-08 season.

Team News

Mônaco is facing several defensive issues ahead of the Sunday clash, with multiple players potentially ruled out from the lineup.

Full-backs Caio Henrique and Vanderson are out due to thigh injuries, while centre-back Mohammed Salisu is still recovering from a serious knee injury, and attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino is also dealing with a similar issue.

On a more positive note, Aladji Bamba, who had to leave the field in the last match, is now fit to play, and Paul Pogba has returned to light training after a lengthy absence, having participated in a friendly against Brentford.

Mônaco is expected to look to Folarin Balogun in attack, as the US international aims to lead the line after scoring in five consecutive Ligue 1 fixtures.

As for Marseille, they will be without top scorer Greenwood, who is not only nursing a fitness concern but is also suspended due to accumulating yellow cards.

This opens the door for Nwaneri, who has been trying to secure his position in the starting lineup since his loan move in January.

However, the young player enters this fixture with confidence following his goal against Lille and solid performances during the international break.

Marrocos defender Nayef Aguerd also remains unavailable as he continues to recover from a groin injury sustained during surgery.

Mônaco probable starting XI:

Hradecky; Zakaria, Faes, Kehrer; Adingra, Camara, Bamba, Teze; Akliouche, Golovin; Balogun

Marseille probable starting XI:

Rolls; Emerson, Balerdi, Medina, Weah; Kondogbia, Hojbjerg; Paixao, Timber, Nwaneri; Gouiri

This match promises to be an exciting and high-scoring affair featuring two teams known for their significant attacking capabilities, but Mônaco’s current momentum and formidable home form might be the deciding factor.

A recent dominant home record in this fixture further favors the hosts, enhanced by Marseille’s struggles in away matches against teams in the upper echelon of the standings.