As the Ligue 1 run-in begins, Monaco and Saint-Etienne will go head-to-head on Friday evening in a vital match in the battle for a place in the Europa League.
Monaco head into the meeting one point ahead of their rivals with a game in hand, and with the title race resuming on Sunday, all eyes will be on the Stade Louis II for a potentially crucial fixture.
Monaco
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In recent seasons, the pressure has been on Monaco to be the main challengers to Paris Saint-Germain in the title race, but expectations have been lowered this season due to a couple of notable departures and a slight change of approach in the transfer market.
The campaign has seen Lyon and Marseille join PSG as the big three in France, but there is still a lot to play for in a campaign which has its fair share of highs and lows. A top-three finish isn't out of the question with Marseille currently just four points better off, although Leonardo Jardim will be fully aware that leading his side into any European competition is the main target.
Monaco are currently on a five-match unbeaten run in the league to give them a boost heading into the closing stages, and Jardim may have been more frustrated than most managers when the international break arrived to stall their momentum ahead of the visit of Saint-Etienne.
Another challenge for Jardim will be to keep his squad fully focused on Ligue 1. Games against Montpellier and Caen follow Friday's fixture before a trip to Turin to take on Juventus in the first leg of their Champions League tie. Monaco may have already surpassed expectations in that competition, but reaching the last eight means that hope continues to grow for their supporters.
Monaco will certainly take confidence from their home form with their last league defeat at the Stade Louis II coming in the final week of September, and continuing that fine run could be the key to clinching fourth and putting more pressure on the title hopefuls.
Jardim may be keen to play down his side's chances of reaching the summit at the end of the season, but moving three points behind leaders PSG would certainly put them back in the picture.
Recent form: LWDWWW
Recent form (all competitions): DLWWLW
Saint-Etienne
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ASSE may have already proven themselves as the surprise package of the season with their excellent performances under Christophe Galtier, and the shocks may not be over yet as they look to steal fourth and put the pressure on the top three.
Much like Monaco, Galtier's men are unbeaten in their last five league games and it is that form which has seen them earn breathing space from the likes of Montpellier and Bordeaux in the battle for European football.
This season's Europa League campaign ended at the group stage before Christmas, but that exit has sparked a reaction in Ligue 1 and they are desperate to return to the competition after missing out on a spot in the knockout stages.
However, it is the next week which could decide how successful this season has been for Galtier and his squad. A Coupe de France semi-final clash with PSG awaits them next Wednesday and results over the next two games could be damaging or provide them with a huge boost heading into the closing stages of the campaign.
Recent form: LDDWWW
Recent form (all competitions): DDDWWW
Team News
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Both sides have key players missing for the game, but the most notable absentee will be Dimitar Berbatov, who will miss out for the hosts due to injury.
Anthony Martial is likely to be given the responsibility to lead the Monaco line once again, with Joao Moutinho expected to play further forward in support of the lone strike, which means Geoffrey Kondogbia and Jeremy Toulalan will continue their partnership in the centre of midfield.
Filling the void left by Max Gradel's suspension will be the big challenge for the visitors as they search for a way to trouble the home defence without an attacker who has been so important to their success this season.
Ricky van Wolfswinkel could be in contention for a rare start in attack, but Galtier is more likely to turn to Kevin Monnet-Paquet, whose pace will be key if the visitors choose to operate on the counter.
Monaco possible starting lineup:
Stekelenburg, Fabinho, Carvalho, Abdennour, Kurzawa, Kondogbia, Toulalan, Ferreira Carrasco, Moutinho, Bernardo, Martial
Saint-Etienne possible starting lineup:
Ruffier, Perrin, Clerc, Theophile-Catherine, Tabanou, Lemoine, Clement, N'Guemo, Erdinc, Monnet-Paquet
Head To Head
Van Wolfswinkel could find himself on the bench once again on Friday night, but he was key in the last meeting between the two sides as his second-half strike rescued his side a point in a 1-1 draw back in November.
It is ASSE who have enjoyed the better record in the fixture in recent seasons, with Monaco winning just one of the previous 11 Ligue 1 fixtures.
Saint-Etienne have lost once in their most recent five trips to the principality.
We say: Monaco 2-1 Saint-Etienne
Monaco's home form has been key throughout the season, and Jardim's men will be full of confidence on Friday night as they look to close the gap on the top three. ASSE will miss the threat of Gradel, and we believe the hosts will have enough to collect three crucial points.
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