Verdict: Both teams to score – yes
Best Odds: 11/18
Bookmaker: 888sport
Cup action continues in France with Ligue 1 heavyweights OGC Nice and AS Monaco locking horns in the Coupe de la Ligue just days following their contrasting fortunes in the Coupe de France.
OGC Nice
Les Aiglons have seen their stock go through a significant rise over the past couple of seasons. With the general increase in popularity of the French football – mostly due to high-profile investments being conducted at PSG – several other clubs such as this week’s Coupe de la Ligue quarter-final rivals OGC Nice and AS Monaco have also got their share of the limelight.
OGC Nice raised their profile by bringing in bad boy of the Italian football Mario Balotelli who helped one of the founding members of the first division of French football hit headlines following a dormant period. The third-placed side of the French top tier in 2016-17 season is currently struggling to keep pace behind the top four (and even five) sides of the Ligue 1 Conforama and will be keen to use the forthcoming clash against AS Monaco to build the form. Les Aiglons are, however, coming off from a disappointing Coupe de France exit at the hands of Toulouse who ran out 1-0 winners this week against a combined Nice side.
Team News
Manager Lucien Favre is expected to line up a much stronger squad for AS Monaco with Mario Balotelli expected to get back in the squad.
Hosts will have a number of injured players, however, with Ganago, Jallet, Le Bihan and Lusamba all expected to miss out once again.
AS Monaco
Unlike their midweek rivals OGC Nice, AS Monaco have avoided a Coupe de France upset by registering a compelling 5-2 victory over Moulins-Yzere at the weekend. Guido Carillo emerged a AS Monaco hero as Ligue 1 Conforama champions kicked off their Cup campaign on a high note.
The 26-year-old Argentine striker bagged a hat-trick for the Principality Club, taking his total tally to seven goals this season and announcing himself as a valuable option upfront for Leonardo Jardim. With AS Monaco heading into another Cup clash, Carillo is widely expected to be given an extended run in the first team. Jardim should make a couple of changes to his starting line-up as the talented manager attempts to preserve freshness and keep his first-team stars ready for Ligue 1 challenges. The Principality Club have suffered from a disconcerting drop in form back in November but still managed to get back to business with a five-match winning run which allowed them to remain in second place in the standings behind the untouchable PSG.
Team News
Radamel Falcao and Balde Keita are not expected to get back to the starting line-up just yet with Jovetic and Carillo lined up as their worthy replacements upfront.
Badiashile, Mbloula, Serrano and Tielemans are all injury doubts whereas Terence Kongolo has moved to the Premier League side Huddersfield and already made a debut for his new team.
Key Factors to Consider
- Nice won 4 out of last 5 home games
- There were over 2.5 goals scored in last three meetings of the two sides
- AS Monaco are flying on the back of five successive triumphs
- Guido Carillo scored a hat-trick for AS Monaco last time out
- Monaco won their last two matches on the road
Conclusion
Most recent meetings between two of France’s most notable sides turned out to be quite interesting affairs with plenty of goals and beautiful football. The Coupe de la Ligue competition will be a great chance for both sides to test their current form and gear up for Ligue 1 action after a Holiday season and we expect to see goals at both ends.
Verdict: Both teams to score – yes
Best Odds: 11/18
Bookmaker: 888sport
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