Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Stade Velodrome were Marseille host AS Monaco in Ligue 1.

What a massive game we have in store for you tonight, as two potential Ligue 1 title contenders face off in the first big clash in the league this season.

Marseille have won all three of their games so far this season and are sitting pretty at the top of the table, as they look to silence their doubters. Having finished second in the league last year, Andre-Pierre Gignac has starred for Les Phoceens with the sort of form that has earned his a recall to the French national side for the first time since the 2010 World Cup, while new boy Dimitri Payet has so far proved to be worth the money that the club has spent on him.

Meanwhile, big-spending Monaco have also enjoyed a great start on their return to the top tier. Claudio Ranieri's side are unbeaten having won two of their three matches, including a big 4-1 win over 2012 champions Montpellier. Monaco endured a goalless draw at home to Toulouse in their last match, and will be looking to return to winning ways at the Stade Velodrome tonight.

Marseille started their season with a 3-1 win at Guingamp, before a 2-0 home win over Evian TG. Their most recent outing saw them earn a 1-0 win at Valenciennes.

AS Monaco began their campaign with a 2-0 win at Bordeaux and then followed that up by smashing Montpellier HSC 4-1. As mentioned, Monaco come into this game off the back of a 0-0 draw with Toulouse at the Stade Louis II.

Right, time for the team news.

MARSEILLE XI: Mandanda, Fanni, N'Koulou, Diawara, Mendy, Romao, Imbula, Payet, Valbuena, A.Ayew, Gignac

Marseille manager Elie Baup has made two changes to the side that beat Valenciennes. Benjamin Mendy and Giannelli Imbula have been drafted into the starting lineup, while Jeremy Morel and Benoit Cheyrou both miss out.

And now for the visitors.

MONACO XI: Subasic, Fabinho, Kurzawa, Carvalho, Abidal, Toulalan, Obbadi, Moutinho, Ocampos, Ferreira Carrasco, Falcao

Claudio Ranieri has made one change to his team following their goalless draw with Toulouse last Friday. Joao Moutinho makes his first appearance of the season having recovered from a thigh injury, and he comes in in place of top scorer Emmanuel Riviere, who drops to the bench. New goalkeeper and Argentine international Sergio Romero has a place among the substitutes, as does James Rodriguez.

We're just five minutes away from kick off.

Let's bring you the substitute benches for both sides, and it's worth noting that new £17m midfield signing Geoffrey Kondogbia doesn't make the squad for Monaco.

MARSEILLE BENCH: Samba, Abdallah, Mendes, Cheyrou, Abdullah, J.Ayew, Khalifa

AS MONACO BENCH: Romero, Isimat-Mirin, Raggi, Tisserand, Pi, Rodriguez, Riviere

The two sides are out onto the field at a very noisy Stade Velodrome. Marseille are wearing their usual white home strip with sky blue trim, while Monaco are sporting their all black kit with red and white patterns on the shirts.

The scene is set, and we're ready to go in the South of France.

Marseille will have kick off.

The officials are in yellow tonight.

KICKOFF! Marseille get the match underway and shoot from left to right in this first half.

Straight away Gignac is penalised for a foul in the corner on Abidal. He was a bit overeager there, but could show just how much determination will be on show tonight.

CHANCE! First sniff at goal for either side tonight and it's for the away team. Monaco hit Marseille on the break as Fabinho bombs down the right before crossing the ball on the edge of the box. Falcao is lurking on the edge of the six-yard box but can't quite stretch enough to make contact with the ball.

Diawara, who was nowhere to be seen for that attack, is down injured and looks as if he will be taken off. Big blow for Elie Baup and Marseille.

No chances since their Falcao sniff, Jeremy Toulalan seems to be holding his groin now. They're going down like flies at the moment. Diawara has not yet been subbed off.

MONACO CHANGE Toulalan limbs off and is replaced by Jessy Pi, the 19-year-old Frenchman who was an unused substitute for the first few games.

MARSEILLE CHANGE Diawara in also unable to continue, and Lucas Mendes has replaced him.

SAVE! First stop of the match as Fanni races down the right and puts a cross in. Gignac nods it down to Payet, who tries to slice it into the near corner, but Subasic is able to make the save.

CLOSE! Fabinho is causing trouble again, despite losing his boot during his run, he paces it down the right byline before cutting the ball back with his right sock (yes, sock) to Ferreira Carrasco on the penalty spot, who hits a shot first time but can only watch it fly wide of the far post.

CHANCE! Monaco go close once again. Falcao cannot quite reach a cross yet again, but the ball inadvertently falls to Kurzawa on the left corner of the penalty area. He smashes it first time with his left foot across the face of goal, but just wide of the far post.

Monaco have enjoyed most of the attacking possession so far in this match, but Marseille are beginning to venture forward.

Nearly a chance for Marseille there as N'Koulou turns into a right winger and bombs down the flank before lifting a cross into the box. However, it's too high and Monaco are able to pick up the loose ball.

Not seen too much of Moutinho so far in this match. He was arguably the club's player of their preseason, and they will be looking to him to feed a hungry Falcao this evening, especially against Marseille's high backline.

Marseille nearly in once again as Valbuena plays in Fanni down the right. He has gotten forward a lot in the early stages of this match, and plays a decent cutback across the penalty area, but none of his teammates are able to get to it.

The Stade Velodrome has been fantastically noisy so far. The fans sense what a massive game this is despite being so early in the season.

CHANCE! Valbuena whips in a corner from the left to the far post towards Lucas Mendes. He beats Abidal to the ball but can only head wide of his near post.

Corner for Monaco on the right which is taking by Moutinho. Despite having green lasers shone in his eyes, he curls the ball into the near post, but Fanni is able to head the clear.

CLOSE! Marseille very nearly take the lead through the in-form Gignac. He brings a cross down well on the edge of the D before wrapping his foot around the ball and half-volleying it towards goal. The ball bends towards the corner of the net, but flies just wide of the right post. Very close from the Frenchman.

It may be goalless, but this has been a very good opening half an hour at the Stade Velodrome.

YELLOW CARD First booking of the night goes to Carvalho, as he dives in late on Valbuena and chops the midfielder down.

Corner from Moutinho from the right, but once again Marseille can clear with ease.

CLOSE! Marseille are a whisker away from the lead. Valbuena chips the ball out to the right touchline where Fanni excellently volleys the cross into the box. He comes back to Andre Ayew, who controls the ball well, before sending the ball whistling just past the post. Marseille are getting on top now.

CHANCE! Marseille are really on top at the moment. The cross is ping in from the right, and Gignac tries to flick the ball on into the far corner, but he is unable to get the effort on target.

YELLOW CARD Fabinho goes into the book after a handball on the right of the box. Good chance for Marseille here.

Good ball into the box from Payet, but Kurzawa makes a brilliant header to clear the danger.

Kurzawa breaks down the left with pace and passes the ball into the box to Carrasco, but his effort is poor and Marseille can break.

CHANCE! Ayew is brilliant as he weaves his way into the box and to the byline, before putting in a great low cross, which Monaco have to scramble behind for a corner.

They've been banging on the door, but finally Marseille are ahead and it's the substitute who has done it. Great ball whipped into the far post by Valbuena, and Mendes peels away from his marker and beats Abidal to the header which flies into the top corner.

We will have one added minute at the Stade Velodrome.

The atmosphere here has somehow gone up another notch. Great noise from the home crowd.

What a brilliant half at the Stade Velodrome. After Monaco made the brighter start and had a few chances, Marseille took over and deservedly lead at the break thanks to Lucas Mendes' header.

The second half promises to be just as good, and how long will it be before Ranieri calls on Rodriguez and Riviere? Time will tell.

Time for the half-time stats.

Match statistics:

Marseille:
Shots 6
On target 2
Possession 58%
Corners 3
Fouls 10

AS Monaco:
Shots 2
On target 0
Possession 42%
Corners 2
Fouls 8

Monaco are back out onto the field. Doesn't look as if they have made any changes.

And here come Marseille.

KICKOFF! Monaco, who are shooting from left to right in this half, get us back underway.

What a start to the second half for Monaco, who are pushing their full-backs forward with every chance. The cross comes in twice from Kurzawa, the second one beats the Marseille backline and Falcao is on home to tap in the leveller from three yards. Game on.

YELLOW CARD Andre Ayew bursts into the Monaco box and goes down under a challenge. He wants a penalty, but the referee hands him a yellow card for diving. Never a penalty.

OFF THE POST! Marseille very nearly go back ahead as Ayew coasts into the box of the right and shoots low across the face of goal. The ball beats everyone in a crowded penalty area, but cannons off the far post. So close.

YELLOW CARD Marseille's Mendy picks up a caution.

There's a lot of space in midfield at the moment which is making for a lot of counter-attacking football. Great game so far.

Corner for Monaco on the left, it's clear behind by Imbula and we'll go again.

Ocampos picks up the ball on the far side of the box from the corner and drills a shot towards goal. However, N'Koulou can make the block.

CHANCE! Moutinho finds Fabinho on the near side of the box from the corner, and the Brazilian almost slide tackles it towards goal, but the ball just creeps wide of the far post.

Falcao wins the ball well before Carrasco is upended on the edge of the box. Free kick in a good position for Monaco now. Left of the D, right on the edge of the box.

Moutinho steps up and hits the ball off the top of a tall Marseille wall, and it goes out for a corner.

OFF THE POST! Great corner in from Moutinho on the left and Kurzawa gets to it first and heads towards the near post. However, a combination of Mandanda's leg and the post keep the ball out.

The pendulum is now starting to swing in Monaco's direction, as they are currently enjoying a lot of attacking possession.

Falcao is down in pain at the moment, and he looks as if he may have twisted his right ankle. A real worry for Monaco here.

The stretcher is out, and this isn't looking pretty for Ranieri. However, Monaco do have top scorer Emmanuel Riviere on the bench.

Panic over for Monaco as Falcao gets back to his feet.

Less than 20 minutes to go, can either side find a winner.

MONACO CHANGE It's job done for Falcao as he makes his way off the field and is replaced by Riviere. Ranieri clearly not keen to take a risk with the Colombian.

CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Ocampos, who brilliantly makes his way into the area after beating Mendes but then smashes his shot straight at Mandanda.

CHANCE! Great run from Riviere as he is picked out and races through on goal. However, his touch is too heavy and Mandanda makes a good stop.

Brilliant goal from Riviere and could that prove to be the winner? Moutinho's pass wasn't great but Riviere's first touch was majestic as he took it away from his markers in the centre of the half, before curving his run into the box and slotting the ball in the bottom corner beyond Mandanda.

Can Marseille find a way back in? A draw would probably be a fair result but they trail at the moment with less than eight minutes to go. This has been an awesome game.

We haven't seen much of Gignac or Payet in this second half. Marseille need them to stand up and be counted in these last few minutes.

MARSEILLE CHANGE Bit of a surprise here as Valbuena is subbed off with Jordan Ayew the man to come on.

Monaco are holding their own at the moment and frustrating Marseille.

MONACO CHANGE Joao Moutinho, who assisted what looks to be the winner, has been taken off and Andrea Raggi comes on.

Four minutes of added time to go.

Monaco doing their best to run down the clock and shut up shop. They have a free kick in an advanced position, which I'm sure they will take their time over.

22 yards out to the left of the D. Great chance to finish the game off.

Carrasco steps up and smashes the ball into the wall before sending his second effort over the bar.

So AS Monaco come from behind to end Marseille's 100% record and move to the top of the table. They were poor towards the end of the first half, but rallied after the break.

Monaco are now top of the table with 10 points, one ahead of Marseille and Saint-Etienne.

Here are your full-time stats.

Match statistics:

Marseille:
Shots 10
On target 2
Possession 54%
Corners 6
Fouls 15

AS Monaco:
Shots 9
On target 4
Possession 46%
Corners 10
Fouls 13

Well that's all from me. I hope you've enjoyed Sports Mole coverage of Ligue 1 this weekend. Until next time, it's goodbye.