Preview: Bastia vs. AS Monaco

AS Monaco go into Saturday's away fixture at Bastia looking for three points to help put pressure on Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain.

Claudio Ranieri's men missed out on closing the gap on PSG to just two points, as they played out a tame 1-1 draw at home to Laurent Blanc's men last Sunday.

The game was touted as a potential title-winning decider, though Monaco will still believe that they can catch the Parisians, who currently hold a five-point lead over AS.

Saturday's visitors have found it tough going in the league of late, with their form table showing three draws, two wins and a loss in their last six Ligue 1 games.

However, Dimitar Berbatov may have helped to restore some faith into his side, having grabbed the goal to send Monaco into the semi-finals of the Coupe de France on Tuesday night.

Bastia go into the game having been buoyed by a welcome three points, as their opening-day loss to Nantes was overturned after Les Canaris fielded a suspended player in the fixture.

The Blues are also coming off the back of a thumping 3-1 away victory over Toulouse last weekend, which sees them now sitting 10th in the Ligue 1 table.

Saturday's hosts hold a record not too dissimilar to Monaco's, having notched three wins, two losses and a draw in their previous six league fixtures.

Recent form

Bastia: WLWWLD

AS Monaco: DDWWDL

Possible starting lineups

Bastia: Landreau; Diakite, Squillaci, Modesto, Palmieri, Romaric, Ilan, Boudebouz, Ba, Khazri, Cisse

AS Monaco: Romero; Carvalho, Raggi, Isimat, Echiejile; Toulalan, Kondogbia, Obbadi, Ferreira-Carrasco; Berbatov, Ocampos

Sports Mole says: 1-3