Monaco, who are the leaders, will challenge Lorient in the early game on Sunday with a view to extending their unbeaten run this season. The match will be played at the Stade Mustoire. So far this season, the 'Monegasques' have taken 10 points from a possible 12, scoring 13 goals in the process, while the 'Lorientals' have just five points.
Lorient started the season with a goalless draw against Paris Saint-Germain, despite having just 22% possession and facing 20 shots from their opponents at the Parc des Princes. Regis Le Bris' side followed up their surprise draw with Paris Saint-Germain with a 1-1 draw with Nice before thrashing Lille 4-1 in the third leg. However, this team was pulled back to reality before the international cycle.
Indeed, Lorient suffered a 0-3 defeat to newly-promoted Le Havre in their last match, despite dominating the opening stages. As a result, Lorient have just five points after four games, meaning Le Bris' side are four points clear of the bottom three and just two points off a place in Europe.
It's worth remembering that Lorient established their athleticism in 2022-23 with the seventh-best home record in Ligue 1, losing just six of their 19 league games at the Stade de la Moustoire, so the Brittany side will look to stem Monaco's momentum.
It's safe to assume that Monaco won't want to go into the international cycle on the back of their winning streak, as they started the season in spectacular fashion, going undefeated in four matches, winning three of them. In the season opener, Monaco thrashed Clermont 4-2, thanks in large part to two goals from Wissam Ben Yedder. Monaco next beat Strasbourg 3-0, with two goals from Takumi Minamino setting the stage for Ben Yedder's match-winning goal.
Minamino and Ben Yedder scored again as Monaco were held to a 3-3 draw by Nantes, but the 'Monegasques' were immediately back on the winning track with a 3-0 victory over Lens before the international break.
Monaco have scored 15 goals so far this season, an average of 3.75 goals per game, and Huth's side have already scored five more goals than Paris Saint-Germain, Reims, Rennes and Le Havre in 2023-24.
It's also worth remembering that Monaco ended last season with the third best away record in Ligue 1, having lost just four of their 19 away league games last season, so the red and whites will back themselves to extend their unbeaten run in Brittany.
Lorient are still without Quentin Boisgaard, Igor Silva and Ayman Kari, who are all out for the season due to injury, while Bamba Dean is also expected to miss Sunday's game. Regis Le Bris has favored a 3-4-2-1 formation this season with Celine Doucoure as the lone striker, with Bournemouth loanee Romain Faval and 20-year-old striker Pablo Pagis playing behind Doucoure. Folmos Mendy, Julien Lapointe and Montazar Tarpey are likely to start at center back this weekend, while Djéréon Carrourou and Vincent Le Goff will likely play in a wing back role.
As for the visitors, Elise Ben Segir, Aidan Diop and Blair Embolo remain sidelined with injuries, while former Southampton defender Mohamed Salisu may have to wait for his Monaco debut as he is still on an accelerated recovery. The attacking trio of Wissam Ben Yedder, Takumi Minamino and Aleksandr Golovin will continue to open the scoring for Monaco on Sunday, with Youssef Fofana and Mohamed Kamara anchoring the midfield. Ben Yedder has scored four goals in four games this season, while Minamino has contributed three goals and three assists, highlighting Monaco's attacking threat.
Lorient's probable starting lineup: Mvogo; Mendy, Labonte, Talbi; Karuru, Abelgel, Ponso, Le Goff; Fival, Pagis; Doucoure. Monaco probable starting XI: Cohen; Singo, Maripan, Magassa; Van der Zeeuwen, Fofana, Camara, Henrique; Minamino, Golovin; Ben Yedder
SCORE PREDICTION: Lorient 1-3 Monaco Considering that Monaco have scored at least three goals in every game this season, we expect Huth's men to come away with another high-scoring victory against Lorient, who have been inconsistent in the early stages of the season.
