Preview: Monaco vs. Marseille - prediction, team news, lineups

The hosts suffered a 1-0 defeat to Nice last time out, while the visitors were thrashed 4-0 by Paris Saint-Germain in their previous outing.

Match preview

Following a run of three wins and two draws, Monaco suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend, as Jeremie Boga scored a 91st-minute winner to hand Nice a 1-0 victory in the principality, making the hosts pay for a series of missed opportunities.

It is fair to say that Monaco have not missed many opportunities this term, as Adi Hutter's men have netted 15 goals in six outings, making them the top scorers in Ligue 1, with at least three goals coming in each of their opening four matches.

After crushing Clermont 4-2 on the opening weekend, the Red and Whites claimed 3-0 victories over Strasbourg and Lens while recording high-scoring draws against Nantes and Lorient, averaging three goals per game across the first five weeks.

Despite last weekend's loss, Monaco find themselves fourth in the Ligue 1 table - two points behind leaders Brest - meaning that Les Monegasques remain in a strong position ahead of Saturday's showdown with Marseille, who are not in a good place right now.

Marcelino oversaw just five league games before resigning as Marseille manager earlier this month, with fans reportedly threatening the club's hierarchy amid ongoing tensions behind the scenes, leaving the Spaniard with no choice but to depart the Stade Velodrome.

On Wednesday, Gennaro Gattuso was appointed as OM's new boss, although the Italian will have to win over the club's supporters following an unsuccessful spell at Valencia, which saw him pick up just seven wins in 22 matches between June 2022 and January 2023.

Funnily enough, Marseille made a strong start to their Ligue 1 campaign under Marcelino, avoiding defeat in each of their opening five games, with victories over high-flying Brest and Reims accompanying draws against Metz, Nantes and Toulouse.

Following Marcelino's departure, Les Olympiens endured a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of PSG last weekend, failing to register a single shot on target while seeing just 23% possession, so Gattuso will be eager to make an impact as quickly as possible.

Monaco Ligue 1 form:

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Marseille Ligue 1 form:

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Marseille form (all competitions):

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Team News

Monaco's lengthy injury list features Eliesse Ben Seghir (thigh), Edan Diop (foot), Breel Embolo (knee), Caio Henrique (knee) and Mohammed Salisu (unspecified), giving Hutter selection dilemmas in multiple departments.

Despite scoring four goals across the opening five matches, Wissam Ben-Yedder was dropped to the bench last weekend, with new signing Folarin Balogun leading the line, while Takumi Minamino and Aleksandr Golovin operated behind the lone striker in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Former Liverpool forward Minamino has already chalked up three goals and three assists this season, while Golovin has chipped in with two goals and one assist.

As for Marseille, long-term absentee Pedro Ruiz remains sidelined due to a cruciate ligament injury, with new signings Geoffrey Kondogbia and Ismaila Sarr also expected to miss Saturday's showdown.

It is difficult to predict how OM will line up for Gattuso's first game, but the Italian manager will likely rely on experienced players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Renan Lodi and Jordan Veretout as he bids to steady the ship.

Monaco possible starting lineup:

Kohn; Singo, Zakaria, Magassa; Vanderson, Camara, Fofana, Henrique; Minamino, Golovin; Ben-Yedder

Marseille possible starting lineup:

Lopez; Mbemba, Gigot, Balerdi; Clauss, Rongier, Ounahi, Veretout, Lodi; Oliveir, Aubameyang

We say: Monaco 3-1 Marseille

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