The final Ligue 1 contest before the World Cup break sees high-flyers Monaco and Marseille clash at the State Louis II on Sunday evening.
Both sides have identical records in the league so far, as Monaco beat Toulouse 2-0, and Marseille battled to a 1-0 win over Lyon last weekend.
Match preview
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Phillipe Clement's exciting Monaco side have delighted and disappointed in equal measure so far this campaign, as electric bursts of form and sorry slumps continue to come and go.
Having won three games in a row on three separate occasions this season, Les Monegasques have also lost 4-1 and 4-2 in front of their own fans to Lens and Troyes respectively, while also conceding four to Trabzonspor and Lille on the road in more recent encounters.
Nonetheless, following a 2-0 win at Toulouse last weekend, the principality side stretched their current unbeaten run in all competitions to four games, as they sealed second spot in their Europa League group along the way.
With goals from Aleksandr Golovin and Breel Embolo, Clement's men fired 24 shots on goal in a dominant performance, as Takumi Minamino produced arguably his best showing in a white and red shirt since his move from Liverpool.
Not only level on 27 points with their visitors on Sunday, Monaco have also shared recent results with Marseille, losing 2-0 the last time Les Phoceens visited the principality. A win, therefore, would represent a huge step towards a third consecutive top-four finish.
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Marseille, on the other hand, have lost three of their last five outings in Ligue 1, after having gone unbeaten in their opening nine.
Igor Tudor's men raced to 19 points from a possible 21 to record their best ever start to a domestic season, before a shock home defeat to newly-promoted Ajaccio preceded losses to Paris Saint-Germain and Lens follow quickly after.
Slipping down to fourth in the standings, having also dramatically crashed out of Europe last week, Les Olympiens picked up a crucial three points against Lyon last time out, as Samuel Gigot guided an excellent header into the far corner.
Without a win in their last three on the road in all competitions, the nine-time French champions will be looking to put some distance between themselves and their on-form hosts with a crucial victory.
Team News
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For the hosts, talented winger Myron Boadu will miss out with a knee injury, while Benoit Badiashile will return from suspension at centre-back.
Monaco currently boast the longest scoring run of any side in Ligue 1 and will be looking to make it 25 consecutive games in which they have netted, in an attack surely spearheaded by Golovin, Embolo and Wissam Ben Yedder.
For Marseille, Eric Bailly looks likely to miss out with another hamstring problem, while midfielder Pape Gueye will also miss out.
Both Matteo Guendouzi and Jordan Veretout were included in Didier Deschamps's World Cup squad this week and should both start in midfield, while Alexis Sanchez could retain his starting place up front ahead of Luis Suarez and Ahmadou Bamba Dieng.
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Henrique, Badiashile, Disasi, Vanderson; Camara, Fofana; Golovin, Ben Yedder, Minamino; Embolo
Marseille possible starting lineup:
Lopez; Gigot, Balerdi, Mbemba; Tavares, Veretout, Rongier, Clauss; Harit, Guendouzi; Sanchez
We say: Monaco 2-1 Marseille
A very evenly-matched contest, this is a top-of-the-table clash that could swing either way, with both sides boasting huge quality throughout.
Nonetheless, given Monaco's remarkable scoring streak, and Marseille's inconsistencies of late, we are predicting a narrow win for the hosts.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
