Ligue 1
Monaco vs Saint-Etienne
Date and time: 17 Aug 2024 at 19:00 UTC
Referee: Clement Turpin
Stadium: Stade Louis II, Monaco
Location: Monaco, France
Match Summary
Monaco faces Saint-Etienne at Stade Louis II in their opening match of the Ligue 1 campaign. Both teams come into this match in high spirits following their respective pre-season performances.
Form and Historical Context
Monaco:
– Strong pre-season form, highlighted by a notable 3-0 win over Barcelona and victories over Feyenoord.
– Finished last Ligue 1 season strongly with a 4-0 win against Nantes and a 2-0 victory over Montpellier.
– Typically utilizes a 3-4-1-2 formation, focusing on solid defensive play, strong midfield control, and versatile attacks.
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Saint-Etienne:
– Mixed pre-season form but impressive wins over Holstein Kiel and Villarreal, despite some defensive lapses.
– Ended last Ligue 2 season with strong performances which included a victory over Rodez.
– Expected to use a 4-3-3 or 4-2-3-1 formation, emphasizing structured defense and quick transitions.
Predicted Lineups
Monaco (3-4-1-2):
– Goalkeeper: Philipp Kohn (16)
– Defenders: Vanderson (2), Thilo Kehrer (5), Mohammed Salisu (22)
– Midfielders: Denis Zakaria (6), Caio Henrique (12), Maghnes Akliouche (11), Takumi Minamino (18)
– Forwards: Folarin Balogun (29), Breel Embolo (36)
– Attacking Midfield: Eliesse Ben Seghir (7)
Saint-Etienne (4-2-3-1):
– Goalkeeper: Gautier Larsonneur (30)
– Defenders: Dennis Appiah (8), Dylan Batubinsika (21), Mickael Nade (3), Leo Petrot (19)
– Midfielders: Benjamin Bouchouari (6), Thomas Monconduit (7)
– Attacking Midfielders: Augustine Boakye (20), Zuriko Davitashvili (22), Mathieu Cafaro (18)
– Forward: Ibrahim Sissoko (9)
Head-to-Head
– The last competitive match between the two teams in April 2022 ended with a 4-1 victory for Monaco over Saint-Etienne.
– Previous encounters have often been one-sided in favor of Monaco, with Monaco frequently securing comprehensive victories both home and away.
Strengths and Considerations
Monaco:
– Strengths: Strong attacking options, solid defensive structure, and effective midfield control.
– Considerations: Need to maintain concentration and capitalize on scoring opportunities.
Saint-Etienne:
– Strengths: Solid defensive organization, effective counter-attacks, and tactical versatility.
– Considerations: Vulnerabilities against top-tier attacks and inconsistencies in pre-season form.
Predicted Outcome
Given Monaco’s superior quality, home advantage, and strong pre-season form, they are likely to dominate this encounter. Saint-Etienne’s recent improvements and determination can make them competitive, but Monaco’s overall attacking and defensive prowess should secure them the victory.
Predicted End Result:
Monaco 3 – 1 Saint-Etienne
Potential Goalscorers:
– Monaco: Folarin Balogun (1), Breel Embolo (1), Takumi Minamino (1)
– Saint-Etienne: Ibrahim Sissoko (1)
While these predictions are based on current form and historical data, football incidents can always surprise us. Enjoy the match!
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