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In-form Ben Seghir looks to lead Monaco against LOSC
Surprise leaders
The hosts have surprised to start the season, and remain unbeaten in all competitions, with six wins and a draw from their seven Ligue 1 matches. The injury bug has bitten the hosts, though, with previously in-form Folarin Balogun out with a shoulder injury and defender Mohammed Salisu also unavailable. The team do have some positive news on the fitness front, though, as Radoslaw Majecki has returned from injury, the goalkeeper having been key to the team's strong play in the run-in last season.
Aside from fitness concerns, the team will also be happy to call on Eliesse Ben Seghir, the teenage academy product whose form for club and country has been irrepressible this season. With a brace for Morocco over the break, he'll look to be one of the Principality's key attackers as they look to rotate ahead of their return to the Champions League in the week, something that his side will do well to remember, remarked Adi Hütter, saying "We are going to have some very tough opponents coming up and for me Lille are one of the best teams in the league," something that augurs well for the quality of the match.
Lille easing into form despite absences
As to the visitors, they're also hitting their stride, with three straight wins in all competitions, including one against Real Madrid. For this encounter, though, they, like their opponents, will have several absences with which to contend, with Tiago Santos joining a lengthy list of absences. For this match, he'll also be joined on the sidelines by the suspended Benjamin André, among others, meaning Bruno Génésio will rely even more on young midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi.
Predicted XIs:
AS Monaco (4-2-3-1): Majecki; Teze, Singo, Kehrer, Henrique; Zakaria, Magassa; Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir; Embolo (or Ilenikhena)
LOSC Lille (4-2-3-1): Chevalier; Meunier, Diakité, Alexsandro, Bakker; Bouaddi, André Gomes; Zhegrova, Angel Gomes, Rémy Cabella; Jonathan David
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