Our prediction for this Ligue 1 match:
Stade Pierre-Mauroy will host Sunday’s Ligue 1 game between Lille and Monaco, the two teams who are eyeing a spot in European competitions. Lille are eyeing their third consecutive league win, and a triumph over Monaco could see them climb to the Conference League berth. Both Diakite and Gomes are back from suspension, but Benjamin Andre is banned due to the accumulation of yellow cards.
Les Rouges et Blancs, on the other hand, dropped two points in a 1-1 draw with Clermont, and, no doubt, they are desperate to return to winning ways. Since the visitors will go for a win in Sunday’s showdown as well, we are tempted to put our money on both teams to score. Mohamed Camara is banned for the match, while both Ruben Aguilar and Willem Geubbels remain on the sidelines with injuries.
Highlighted Player (Jonas Martin):
Born in Besancon on April 9, 1990, Jonas Martin is a French footballer who plays for Strasbourg as a midfielder. Jonas Martin started his youth career at Rigny and after spending four years at the club (1997-2000) he moved to Nimes Olympique in 2000.
Four years later the playmaker joined Montpellier and he made 92 appearances for La Paillade. Martin played 64 games for Montpellier II as well and he spent the 2011/2012 season on loan at Amiens. In the summer of 2016 the French player signed a three-year contract with La Liga team Real Betis and at the end of the season he returned to France, joining Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg.
His main position is central midfielder, but he is capable of playing as both defensive midfielder and attacking midfielder as well. Jonas Martin has one cap for France U19 team, but he has yet to make his debut for the senior team. His contract with Strasbourg expires on June 30, 2020.
Highlighted Team (Monaco):
Though based in Monaco, Les Rouges et Blances – as they are commonly referred to – play their games in the French football league system. Members of the top tier Ligue 1, Monaco play their home matches at the Stade Louis II in Fontvieille in front of 18,500 people. The Principality club boasts a turbulent history, which saw Monaco reach the highest heights of both domestic and international scene, but also get relegated to the amateur leagues at the very beginnings and to Ligue 2 in 2010-11 season.
The following year AS Monaco were acquired by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev, whose heavy investments turned the Principality club into one of the biggest spenders in Europe in 2013 and reestablishing its place among Europe’s top clubs.
AS Monaco have had notable European results in the modern football era having been runners-up in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1992 and the UEFA Champions League in 2004. One of the most successful clubs in France AS Monaco have so far won seven league titles and five Coupe de France trophies.