Monaco have enjoyed a strong start to their domestic and European campaigns, setting their sights on maintaining their momentum in the Ligue 1 title race as they prepare for a crucial test against Lille this weekend.The club from the principality last tasted league glory in 2017, powered by a young Kylian Mbappe. While they haven’t replicated those heights, they have finished in the top three four times over the last seven seasons. Last season, Monaco finished as runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain, and they entered the recent international break leading the table by two points ahead of the reigning champions.Potential Paris FC takeover could reshape the French football sceneUnder the guidance of Austrian coach Adi Hütter, Monaco have won six out of their seven Ligue 1 matches so far, with the only blemish being a 1-1 home draw with Lens, where a last-minute penalty denied them all three points. Their European campaign is also off to a promising start, as they returned to the Champions League after six years, securing a 2-1 victory against Barcelona at the Stade Louis II and battling back from a two-goal deficit to earn a draw at Dinamo Zagreb.Some smart signings have supported Monaco’s positive run over the summer, most notably young Senegalese midfielder Lamine Camara, who joined to fill the gap left by Youssouf Fofana’s transfer to AC Milan. The rise of promising talents like Eliesse Ben Seghir and Maghnes Akliouche has also been crucial, while the departure of former captain Wissam Ben Yedder could bring long-term benefits to the team. Ben Yedder, who scored 98 goals in Ligue 1 over five seasons, is currently facing legal challenges and personal struggles.AFCON2025Q: Morocco seal the home soil trophy hunt, Guirassy thrashes Ethiopia once againThis season, Monaco have set high ambitions to challenge the expected front-runners PSG. The Saints currently lead Ligue 1’s scoring charts with 21 goals, averaging three goals per game, which suggests that Mbappe’s absence isn’t heavily felt. Bradley Barcola has stepped up as the league’s top scorer with six goals, and he recently netted for France in their Nations League win over Israel.However, the upcoming fixtures will be key to Monaco’s prospects of sustaining their title challenge. After facing Lille on Friday, they will meet Red Star Belgrade in the Champions League, followed by a derby against Nice.”It is true that we have started the season very well, but we were in a similar position at this time last year,” Hütter reminded. “We have some big opponents ahead, and for me, Lille are among the best in the league.”Monaco have been dealt a setback with news that United States striker Folarin Balogun will be sidelined for two months due to a dislocated shoulder suffered in their recent 2-1 victory at Rennes.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Lille, Monaco’s opponents this weekend, were Ligue 1 champions in 2021 and are currently fifth in the table. They come into the match after an impressive Champions League win against Real Madrid and will follow their trip to the Mediterranean with a visit to Spain to face Atletico Madrid in the same competition.Elsewhere, one player looking to make a comeback to Ligue 1 football is Pierre Lees-Melou, a standout for Brest last season when he helped them achieve a surprise third-place finish, earning a place in the league’s Team of the Year. A stress fracture in his fibula kept him from securing a move over the summer, and he missed Brest’s first eight games of this campaign. However, he returned as a substitute in their recent match against Le Havre.Now, Lees-Melou is aiming to feature in Saturday’s Brittany derby against Rennes — a club he was linked with last season — and possibly in Wednesday’s Champions League match against German champions Bayer Leverkusen.#ASMonaco 🆚 #LOSC#ASMLOSCLes compo des médias pour le match de ce soir 20h45.🟥Côté monégasque, 4231 pour les 2 médias avec #Ilenikhena en pointe. #Minamino et #Magassa pour l’équipe et #Benseghir et #Camara pour l’équipe.⬜️Côté lillois, 4231 aussi avec les mêmes onze… pic.twitter.com/vKODpXD2kO— AlyumdrA 🇮🇩 (@AlyumdrA) October 18, 2024 LIGUE 1 – MATCHDAY 8Friday21:45: (1.87) Monaco (3.60) Lille (4.20)Saturday18:00: (2.95) Brest (3.40) Rennes (2.55)20:00: (5.30) Saint-Etienne (3.60) Lens (1.70)22:00: (1.28) PSG (6.00) Strasbourg (9.50)Sunday16:00: (3.70) Le Havre (3.50) Olympique Lyon (2.00)18:00: (2.80) Auxerre (3.40) Reims (2.65)18:00: (3.20) Nantes (3.30) Nice (2.45)18:00: (1.62) Toulouse (3.70) Angers (6.00)21:45: (4.50) Montpellier (3.80) Olympique Marseille (1.85)***odds are subject to change***
