Marseille-Monaco Statistical Preview

Team News

 Marseille

OM boss Michel has favoured the central midfield pairing of Lassana Diarra and Mauricio Isla of late, which may see loanee Lucas Silva continue to start on the bench against Monaco.
Javier Manquillo and Romain Alessandrini will most likely start from the off on the right flank, with the latter returning to competitive football in midweek after a short spell on the sidelines.
Georges-Kévin Nkoudou, who has been directly involved in his side's last six goals, will start at Lucas Ocampos and Abdel Barrada's expenses.
All in all, Michel should be able to name his strongest starting XI against local rivals Monaco.

 Monaco

L'AS Monaco head to the Stade Vélodrome without their main leader in midfield, Jérémy Toulalan, after he was forced off with a muscle problem in Thursday's 2-0 home defeat to Anderlecht.
His absence would pose a huge problem for Leonardo Jardim, who is still unable to rely on the injured sextet of Nabil Dirar, Adama Traoré, Tieméou Bakayoko, Thomas Lemar, Ivan Cavaleiro and Farès Bahlouli.
Fabinho may therefore be required to start in midfield, with Almamy Touré coming in at right-back.
Guido Carrillo and Lacina Traoré - who are both yet to score in Ligue 1 this season - will hope to start, though Stephan El Shaarawy could be a credible alternative on the counter.

 Prediction

L'Olympique de Marseille relied on the relentless duo of Michy Batshuayi and Georges-Kévin Nkoudou to secure a much-needed win against FC Groningen in midweek, which is likely to see Michel's men reach the next stage of the Europa League. Les Phocéens, who have picked up more league points on the road (10) than in front of their fans (8), will now be aiming to grab their first league win at the Stade Vélodrome since September as they return to domestic duties on Sunday.
Les Rouge et Blanc are in a much better position than Marseille in Ligue 1 following Saturday's 1-0 win over Nantes - sitting only 2 points off 2nd-placed Lyon before gameweek 15 - but Leonardo Jardim's men will have been taken aback by their performance against Anderlecht, with a side close from the one that deputising this weekend.
L'OM have won five of their last six competitive fixtures coming into Sunday's clash and may have what it takes to defeat a weakened Monaco outfit, who may suffer without Jérémy Toulalan in midfield.