Preview: Monaco vs. Nantes

Sports Mole previews Sunday’s Ligue 1 clash between Monaco and Nantes, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Monaco can match their longest winning run at Stade Louis II in Ligue 1 this season (four) when they welcome Nantes to the Principality in the final domestic encounter of the campaign for both sides.

Les Monegasques locked up second place with a 2-0 triumph over Montpellier, while La Maison Jaune can finish no better than 14th, currently a point above Le Havre for that spot after suffering a 2-1 defeat versus Lille.

Match preview
© Reuters

Adi Hutter has achieved what no Monaco boss has been able to do since the 2017-18 season, guiding this team to a top-two finish domestically.

With a victory on Sunday, this team would surpass their points total from the last top-flight campaign (65) despite playing four fewer matchdays this season than the previous one.

Les Monegasques could also equal their number of wins from 2021-22 (20) this weekend and win three successive top-flight encounters for the third time this season.

Under Hutter, Monaco have been a handful for opposing backlines, as they possess plenty of chance creators who have been able to drag defenders into 1V1 situations with tremendous off-the-ball running in the attacking third.

That approach has been ideally suited for this side, which is littered with individual quality, scoring the second-most goals in Ligue 1 (64) and 15 different players finding that back of the net for them in this competition.

They are unbeaten in their last 11 meetings with Nantes in this competition and could extend their domestic unbeaten run at Stade Louis II to six matches on Sunday, which would be their longest such run at home in Ligue 1 since 2021-22 (10).

Nantes have walked a slippery slope domestically throughout the season but will live to see top-flight football for at least another season.

Ironically, the man they sacked when facing relegation last season has managed to keep them in Ligue 1 this time around, with Les Canaris claiming points in four of six domestic encounters since the return of Antoine Kombouare.

A victory on Sunday would match their points total from the previous domestic campaign (36) when they barely staved off relegation, finishing a point above Auxerre.

If they lose this weekend, Nantes would suffer their 19th defeat in the top flight this season, equalling their record from 2008-09 (38 matches).

Win or lose, the 2023-24 domestic campaign will mark the first time La Maison Jaune has had more than 50% defeats in Ligue 1 (currently 18 losses in 33 games).

Les Canaris have only lost one of their last six matches against Les Monegasques in all competitions, but they have not won a top-flight encounter at Stade Louis II since 2009 (2-1).

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

Nantes Ligue 1 form:

Team News
© Reuters

Ismail Jakobs will not be available for Monaco following his knee surgery, while Aleksandr Golovin and Denis Zakaria are out for the season with ankle and thigh injuries.

Guillermo Maripan is unlikely to play because of a muscle injury, Maghnes Akliouche will be suspended, while Takumi Minamino is eligible to return from his suspension.

Kassoum Ouattara netted his first of the campaign for Les Monegasques last weekend, with the insurance marker coming courtesy of vice-captain Youssouf Fofana, who was named to the French squad for the Euros in Germany earlier this week.

Bastien Meupiyou will probably be out for Nantes on Sunday with a knee issue, Moses Simon will miss this game due to a broken foot, Douglas Augusto has a thigh injury and Pedro Chirivella will be suspended.

Remy Descamps is dealing with a groin injury, and Jean-Charles Castelletto will be sidelined while he recovers from a calf strain.

Matthis Abline had the only goal for Nantes in their defeat to Lille, his fifth of the season, moving ahead of Florent Mollet for second on the team in this competition and three behind Mostafa Mohamed.

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Majecki; Singo, Kehrer, Salisu; Fofana; Diatta, Ouattara, Diop, Ben Seghir; Ben Yedder, Embolo

Nantes possible starting lineup:
Lafont; Comert, Zeze, Pallois; Amian, Sissoko, Moutoussamy, Mollet, Bamba; Mohamed, Abline

We say: Monaco 3-1 Nantes
All season long, Monaco have been finding the back of the net with ease, and even with nothing to play for, we expect them to maintain that consistency and end the season on a high note.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

ID:543826:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect10866:

Previews by emailClick here to get Sports Mole’s daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!