17 Points, Two Games: Monaco Test Lyon’s Lead

Their home meeting with Olympique Lyonnais on Sunday is a contest between first and fourth, with 17 points between them and only two Ligue 1 Uber Eats games left. Lyon arrive on 71 points; Monaco have 54 and a 13-game unbeaten league run to defend.

They have won four of their last five league games, while Lyon are unbeaten in three. The leaders’ last league defeat came on 13 April, at Nîmes Olympique. Their points tally also sits above the 64.3 expected from their chances; Monaco’s 54 is likewise above an expected 49.1. Lyon’s defensive record is striking: 19 conceded, against 24.6 expected.

The last meeting offers Monaco little comfort. Lyon won 1-0 in December, Julio Barone scoring on 53 minutes. The likely elevens again suggest 4-4-2 on both sides, but Lyon’s team has several new faces from that match, including Álvaro, Stanley Devoy and José Franco. Monaco’s expected side includes Andrea Mengucci and Romaric Tournier; Steven Igwe, a regular in midfield, is injured and not expected back until about 2 June. Centre-back Frank Stuer is also out with a broken ankle.

Merouane Mokrani is the home side’s most obvious spark, with three goals and four assists across his latest five appearances. The duel with Lyon left-back Jordan Raynaud may matter; Mokrani’s recent average rating is 7.69, Raynaud’s 6.78. Barone, meanwhile, has eight goals across his latest five games, but is also listed as tired.

Lyon manager Tony Roberts returns to a club he managed from 2046 to 2047.