AS Monaco will try to build on their momentum as they get ready to host Ligue 1 leaders Olympique Lyon. The hosts have not conceded a goal in 7 matches and are one a 12 matches unbeaten run that propelled them onto the 5th place on the table with 39 points and at just one point from the Europa League place. Meanwhile Lyon have an unbeaten run of seven matches in Ligue 1, but they were eliminated from Coupe de France by Nantes.

Lyon are enjoying a lead of four points at the top of the Ligue 1 table, but lost one of their most important players prior to playing against Monaco and then PSG. Lacazatte got a hamstring injury during the last Ligue 1 game and might miss up to one month of competition matches. The striker scored 10 goals in 6 matches and it remains to be seen whether Fekir, Tolisso and Gourcouff will be able to keep of the front against Berbatov and Moutinho. The leaders have a mixed form in away games where they have 4 wins, and three draws and three defeats.

Monaco are on a very good run as of late and at home they play even better by having three wins in a row. Lyon will have it difficult to score against them with Wallace and Fabinho there to tighten up the defensive line. The hosts are in direct competition for a Champions League place, with PSG this time and there’s a five points gap between them. Berbatov and Ferreira Carrasco are the main goalscorers and after the win against second placed Marseille, AS Monaco finally started being backed to return to European football.

Monaco are tipped for the three points mainly because they play at home and a win has 2.10 odds with 888sport. A Lyon win has 3.65 odds and a draw 3.20. Both teams to score has 1.93 odds, over 2.5 goals 2.35 and AS Monaco for both halves 3.30. Lyon with a +1 handicap has 1.32 odds, Monaco with a -1 handicap 3.25 and if you think Gonalons will get booked 888sport offers 4.50 odds for it. Berbatov has 2.80 odds to score, Germain 3.85 and Gourcouff 5.80 and we’re betting on over 1.5 goals by AS Monaco with 2.38 odds from 888sport.

AS Monaco: Team’s Formation

Olympique Lyon must show that they are capable of a comeback against Stade de Reims as they get ready to close the 16th Ligue 1 round with a win. The hosts have the third best attack in Ligue 1, however they failed to score in two consecutive matches, which ultimately culminated with their demise against St. Etienne.

Reims are currently on the 9th place in Ligue 1, have an unbeaten run of four matches and can boast with wins against Lille and a draw against AS Monaco. Their midfield is where they are at their strongest and even if they will be without Bastien, Peugeot and Weber, expect Jean-Luc Vasseur to compensate with a strong attacking line. Lyon will face Reims without Bisevac who is serving a suspension, and Gourcouff, who still does not have a return date set. When asked about his return to the squad for the Sunday match Fournier refused to give a definite answer.

Lyon come from an unexpected 3-0 defeat against St. Etienne, which ended their unbeaten 20 years run against Les Verts. Last time St. Etienne won against Lyon back in 1994 was with the same score, which prompted Fournier to state: “We came across a Saint-Etienne team that has had 20 years of frustration of not being able to win the derby at home.” It remains to be seen whether Lyon will be ready to bounce back from said defeat which not only allowed Bordeaux to level on points with them, but also to keep Lyon six points behind PSG.

Reims have not lost an away game since September against Metz, and that time served them right to climb up from the 18th place to their current one. Lyon however have a much stronger squad and have won their last six matches at home while managing to score an average of two goals per game. Many are expecting a close call match, but Lyon are still the favorites to win with 1.50 odds, Reims 7.00 and a draw has 4.00 odds. Reims with a +2 handicap has 1.53 odds, over 10 corners 2.25, and both teams to score 2.05 odds. We’re betting 7 units on Lyon to score in both halves with 2.40 odds from Titan Bet.

Olympique Lyon: Team’s Formation

Paris Saint Germain are seven points behind the current Ligue 1 leaders, and after nine matches they look forward to coming back to actually winning matches instead of finishing them in a draw. As they travel to play against Lens, the fans have only thought in their mind, their team has to win, but only if Ibrahimovic is finally cleared to play.

Lens are currently on the 18th place, which is direct relegation, provided they are unable to win at least some matches this season. In the last five matches they lost three of them and recorded draws in the other two. Last season Lens got just one point from the two meetings with PSG, and while they are missing on players like Cyprien and Kantari due to suspension, they look forward to capitalizing on the state of confusion their opponents are currently in.

Paris Saint Germain are still fussing over Zlatan possibly not featuring again. According to Le Parisien, Ibrahimovic left yesterday’s training session visibly upset, which only added to the speculation of him being unfit for the Friday match. The good news could come from Thiago Silva, who trained with the team for the first time since picking up the hamstring injury in the match against Napoli. The visitors would welcome some depth to their defense as at the moment first-choice are all out injured or displaying fitness problems.

The latest victim for PSG is Marquinos, whose name only adds to the one of Lavezzi, Aurier and Motta to have fitness problems. PSG are also missing out of an attacking player as with Lavezzi and Ibrahimovic out they seem to rely only on Pastore and Cavani, but they are not getting any back up from their attacking midfielders. Even if they depend on Ibrahimovic too much, the visitors have been the team to dominate French football in recent years, which is why the bookmakers favor them to win.

PSG got 1.33 odds for an outright win, Lens gets 10.00 odds and a draw between the two has 4.85 odds. Both teams to score has 2.23 odds, over 2.5 goals has 1.76 odds, and PSG for both halves has 1.84 odds. Maro Verrati is the player with the biggest possibility to get booked at 2.20 with 888sport, while Cavani to score has 1.89 odds. We’re betting 8 units on PSG to score in both halves with 2.12 odds from the same bookie.

RC Lens: Team’s Formation