Monaco vs Saint-Etienne Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 French Ligue 1
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After an impressive campaign last time around, Monaco head into the 2024/25 season with quite a strong squad as they begin the campaign against a newly-promoted and hopefully rebuilt Saint-Etienne side.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 17th August, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – TBC / US – TBC
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – TBC / US – TBC
MONACO PREVIEW: INTENSE AND ENTERTAINING MONACO
Under the management of former Borussia Monchengladbach boss Adi Hutter, Monaco were one of the most entertaining teams to watch in Ligue 1 last season. For example, their 34 games in the league last year have consisted of 110 goals. It is set to be yet another entertaining campaign, too, with Hutter only implementing his style even further.
Over the summer, they have released their top scorer Wissam Ben Yedder with the French international fighting a legal battle at the moment. In terms of incomings, the Monagasque have brought in some really interesting additions such as Lamine Camara in midfield and Christian Mawissa from Toulouse.
SAINT-ETIENNE PREVIEW: PROPELLING THEMSELVES BACK TO RELEVANCE
Saint-Etienne are one of the most famous and storied institutions of French football so their relegation back in 2023 was one that left many in shock. It was not plain sailing last season but they eventually did gain promotion back to the top-flight via the end of season playoff against Rodez and then Metz.
ASSE, coached by former Montpellier Herault boss Olivier Dall’Oglio, have made some interesting signings this summer. Georgia international Zuriko Davitashvili has arrived from Girondins de Bordeaux alongside Augustine Boakye from Wolfsberger and Cukaricki’s Igor Miladinovic.
MONACO TEAM NEWS: REPLICATING THE JOAN GAMPER TROPHY
Adi Hutter’s so-called ‘gegenpressing’ style of football was quite flexible last season with the principality club often switching between a back three and a 4-2-3-1.
However, after hammering Barcelona by three goals to nil in the Joan Gamper Trophy last week in Catalonia with something more akin to a German-style 4-2-2-2 may well be the way to go for this season.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-2-2): Kohn; Vanderson, Kehrer, Salisu, Jakobs; Camara, Zakaria; Minamino, Ben Seghir; Embolo, Balogun
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
SAINT-ETIENNE TEAM NEWS: JUST ONE ISSUE
The experienced 60-year-old coach Olivier Dall’Oglio has often preferred a 4-3-3 system throughout his tenure and that is the system Saint-Etienne used to gain promotion last season.
That should suit a couple of their new additions and, most notably, the width and pace of Davitashvili down one of the two flanks with a debut likely for the Georgian.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Larsonneur; Macon, Briancon, Abdelhamid, Petrot; Cafaro, Appiah, Tardieu; Davitashvili, Sissoko, Boakye
UNAVAILABLE: Moueffek (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
MONACO VS SAINT-ETIENNE PREDICTION
With defending champions and title favourites Paris Saint-Germain expected to be in a transitional season this season thanks to further churn in their squad, Monaco will be one of the pretenders that are looking to challenge PSG for the title. They face a Saint-Etienne side that will be expecting to battle against the drop throughout the campaign and this is a tough opening test with Monaco the firm favourites, especially with their home advantage.
MONACO VS SAINT-ETIENNE TIP: MONACO TO WIN
