18 November 2021, 14:32 | 28 August 2021, 15:29
The League of Talents is back with the mid-table clash between AS Monaco and Lille OSC taking center stage at the Stade Louis II on Friday, November 19 at 21:00 (GMT+1). This highly anticipated fixture, slated for the first day of the weekend, lays the mark for Matchday 14. A quick look at the numbers ahead of the game leaves us with Lille’s Jonathan David and Rennes’ Gaëtan Laborde sharing the spotlight on Ligue 1’s top scorers’ list with 8 goals apiece. PSG’s Kylian Mbappe sits at the top of the assists list with a haul of 7, while Walter Benítez of OGC Nice and Marseille’s Pau López have the highest number of clean sheets, 5. The nine-time Ligue 1 champions, PSG, are 10 points clear of second-placed RC Lens at the top of the table, while FC Metz is at the bottom with only one victory and 8 points.
Preview Monaco Ligue 1, Nov 19, 2021
Preview AS Monaco picked up a goalless draw against Reims before the international break at the Stade Auguste Delaune in front of 12,080 spectators. Images from Matchday 13 showed both sides had decent opportunities to score but lacked the conviction to convert several clear-cut chances. With 0-0 at full-time, the results left Monaco without a goal in three games across all competitions. Niko Kovac’s men are in 11th place, with the Ligue 1 form: WLWLD, having picked up 18 points after 5W, 3D, & 5L. Tipped as title-contenders, an underperforming Monaco has a goal ratio of 1.31 g.p.g. this season, having scored 17 goals in thirteen Ligue 1 games. The club is nursing a narrow margin of 1.23 goals conceded per game, which leaves Monaco with 16 goals conceded and a G.D. of +1. A defeat to Lille on Friday will see Monaco drop one spot to 12th place on the table. Kovac could line up with the conventional 4—4—2 formation, leaving Sofiane Diop and Ben Yedder upfront in attack. According to Ligue 1’s official website, Diop, 21, recently extended his contract with the club until 2026. Meanwhile, the skipper, Ben Yedder, remains Monaco’s top scorer this season with 6 goals to his name. He will be on the hunt to add to the tally on Friday.
Preview Lille Ligue 1, Nov 19, 2021
Preview Lille picked up a 1-1 draw against SCO Angers before the international break on home soil. Tiago Djalo (27') put LOSC in front, three minutes short of the half-hour mark before a late goal from Azzedine Ounahi (83') denied Lille the win. The draw leaves Les Dogues in 12th place on the Ligue 1 table with 16 points after 4W, 4D, & 5L. Having only one victory in five games, WLDLD, Jocelyn Gourvennec will be on the hunt for three points on Friday. Known with the 4—4—2, an attacking duo consisting of Burak Yilmaz and Jonathan David is expected once again. Yilmaz bagged a hat-trick of assists in Turkey’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Gibraltar on Saturday, and could use the same form on Friday when Lille takes on Monaco.