While they have not managed to live up to their tag as title challengers, Lyon can still finish the season strongly and grab second place from Lille. They have shown the talent in their squad this season, beating both PSG and Manchester City as well as holding Barcelona to a goalless draw earlier this week in the UEFA Champions League. On Sunday evening, they head to Monaco looking for another three points.
- Monaco has won its last two home matches in Ligue 1.
- Lyon has won four of its last five league outings.
- Lyon has won 11 of the last 23 meetings between these two teams.
Monaco on the road to recovery
Since Leonardo Jardim took back over at Monaco, there have been a few improvements in the team’s play, not to mention results. The club has won its last two Ligue 1 encounters in front of their own fans and now sit two points above the relegation zone – just a few short weeks ago, relegation to Ligue 2 looked a virtual certainty under the stewardship of Thierry Henry.
Lyon, by way of comparison, has been enjoying some fine form of its own over the last few weeks. They have won four of their last five league encounters – including a 2-1 victory over defending champion PSG – and sit third in the table, four points behind Lille in second place.
And while the betting is close in this one, it is Lyon that comes in as the favorite to take all three points. You can back the visitors to win at +120, while Monaco, despite home advantage, is out at +220 to make it three home league wins in a row. A draw would appear to be the least likely outcome and is priced accordingly at +250.
Lyon to continue run of form
Given Monaco’s recent resurgence under Jardim, we are certainly expecting this to be a closely fought affair, but the technical quality of this Lyon squad should be enough to take the points over the course of the 90 minutes. And while it can be a thankless task trying to predict the exact outcome of any football match, a narrow 2-1 win for Lyon comes in at +800 and could well be worth a bet after their recent displays.
Such a result would then also allow you to back OVER 2.5 goals in the game, which is priced low at just -150, as well as both teams to score, which is at even shorter odds of -188. Therefore, in an attempt to boost any potential earnings from this match, you may wish to consider combo betting, which allows you to select multiple outcomes at higher odds.
For example, a combo bet of a Lyon win, coupled with both teams to score, is at the higher price of +275, while an away victory and OVER 2.5 goals in the game is at +200. OVER 2.5 goals and both teams to score comes in at just -110.
Could Lyon make a fast start?
Given their excellent recent record and the fact they desperately need a win this weekend, there is every chance that Lyon will come racing out of the blocks in search of an early goal to try to take control of the game as quickly as possible. It may therefore be an idea to back OVER 0.5 goals in the first 10 minutes at +300, while Lyon is at +700 to be ahead by the end of that time period. Incidentally, Monaco is only slightly higher, at +850, to achieve the same feat.
This is a game we are expecting Lyon to dominate, but given their defensive record they might have to come from behind to win, an outcome you can back at +700. In addition, they are at just +175 to score in both halves but out at +550 to actually go out and win both halves.
In terms of goalscorers, Moussa Dembele is Lyon’s best attacking outlet. The forward is at +110 to score at any time and +400 to net either the first or the last goal of the game.
