Saint Etienne vs Monaco – Betting Tips and Ligue 1 Preview

Back in 2017, Monaco ended the recent monopoly of PSG by claiming the French Ligue 1 title, but they could only finish second that following season. Meanwhile, Saint Etienne were a dominant force in France during the 1960’s and early ’70s, but times have changed since those successful days for both teams. For the current campaign, the team from the principality and Les Verts struggled for form during the early weeks and were nearer the bottom of the league than challenging for the title.

There have been signs of improvement at both clubs in recent games, and this clash could determine which team enters the top half of the table. As ever at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, this is expected to be competitive clash but some stands may be closed due the throwing of missiles during a recent game against Lyon.

After winning two and losing four of their first eight matches of the new Ligue 1 campaign, the immediate fortunes of St Etienne were not looking great. Les Verts responded by appointing Claude Puel as manager, and they have remained unbeaten since he won his first game when beating local rivals Lyon in the Rhone Derby. That 1-0 victory was earned by scoring a very late winner and a 93rd minute penalty secured another victory in Bordeaux. Since those two successes, Puel had guided his players to two score draws as they seek more consistency in form. However, just one win claimed on home soil this term is a concern ahead of this important clash.

Four defeats incurred from their five opening Ligue 1 matches and at least two goals conceded per game was not best of starts to a season for Monaco, but following a thrilling 4-3 home defeat by Marseilles, Leonardo Jardim’s players have enjoyed a decent sequence of form. Helped by the new strike force of Islam Slimani and Wissam Ben Yedder, the principality club have lost just once in league action when beaten 3-1 at Montpellier during early October. Four successive competitive wins have been earned at Stade Louis II, and a recent 1-0 win was also secured at a Nantes team previously unbeaten on home soil this term. Monaco are now proving to be a dangerous attacking outfit, but defensive concerns remain.

Team News

Kevin Monnet-Paquet (knee ligaments) is a long-term injury absentee at St Etienne, and there are ongoing fitness issues regarding Yohan Cabaye (ankle).

Diego Benaglio is an injury concern for Monaco with Stevan Jovetic , and Willem Geubbels already ruled out. Islam Slimani missed the midweek Coupe de la Ligue victory against Marseille with a groin problem but is hoping to be fit while Henry Onyekuru has now returned to action.

Prediction

Saint-Etienne have already become a difficult team to beat since the installation of Puel as manager, but only one of four matches has yielded more than two goals when drawing 2-2 with Amiens on home turf. Monaco are also producing much better form although they tend to reserve their more productive displays for Stade Louis II. Yet Jardim’s team have lost just twice on away soil this term when conceding three goals on each occasion, but two clean sheets have also been registered on the road. Therefore, a bet for Saint-Etienne and Monaco to Draw priced at 9/4 with bet365 seems a good offer.

A second pick is for Wissam Ben Yedder to score at any time offered at 7/5 by bet365. Signed from Sevilla for €40 during mid-August, the French international striker has not disappointed since his move from Spain. Ben Yedder has scored in each of Monaco’s last six Ligue 1 games netting twice against both Rennes and Marseille. He was a used substitute in midweek so should be relatively fresh to extend his goal-scoring streak.