Monaco will be hoping to register a third consecutive victory when they travel away to Montpellier on Saturday night.
Leandro Jardim’s side are starting to pick form after a horrible start to the season that saw them sit in the bottom three after six games.
In those six outings, the Principality club had just three points after drawing three and losing as many.
However, they now look to have turned the corner now and are starting to win.
Last weekend, they defeated Brest 4-1 at home, following up on their 3-1 win against Nice seven days prior.
In Wassim Ben Yadder, Monaco have one of the league’s most in-form strikers. His brace against Brest took him to 5 goals for the season and the summer signing is looking like good value for money.
Along with Algerian-Islam Slimani, the two have scored 9 of Monaco’s 14 goals this season and will be the two that Jardim looks to on Saturday.
For Montpellier, they have had a mixed start to the season so far.
After going three games minus tasting defeat, Der Zakarian’s side lost 1-0 at Strasbourg last weekend.
The loss was their third for the season already having gone down to Nantes and Rennes earlier in the campaign.
The visit of Monaco will cause issues for Montpellier but a side that is usually strong at home will be confident of getting a result.
Der Zakarian’s side come into the game having won all their last three home games.
The home side will be without the suspended duo of Jordan Ferri and Alain Souquet. Taji Savanier also misses out due to injury.
For Monaco, they have four players out injured. Gil Dias, Pietro Pellegri, Steven Jovetic and William Guebbels are all still nursing injuries.
Monaco come into the game winless in their last two visits in Montpellier. However, they have also not lost either as they have drawn both.
Last season’s reverse fixture between the two sides ended in a 2-2 draw.
Earlier on Saturday, the top two of PSG and Angers meet at the Parc da Princes.
As expected, the Parisians sit top of the table with 6 victories from their opening 8 games.
After losing to Reims 2-0 at home, Tomas Tuchel’s side side responded with a 1-0 win away to Bordeaux.
Once again it was star player Neymar Jr who acted as the savior, netting his third goal of the season.
Last weekend’s victory was followed up with a win away to Galatasary in the Champions League, a game that saw Mauro Icardi score his first goal for PSG.
With Kylian Mbappe now fully fit and Edison Cavani in the final phases of his recovery from injury, PSG look to be at full strength upfront and will most probably start banging in the goals in plenty.
However, PSG are still without several first team players with the likes of Julian Draxler, Christoph Dagbo, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting and Thilo Kehrer all still out injured.
For Angers, they have so far been the surprise package of the division.
After 8 rounds, Stephane Moulin’s side sit second on the log, just two points behind leaders PSG.
Despite drawing their last game at home to Amiens, they are currently enjoying a good run of form that has seen them avoid defeat in their previous three games, winning twice.
This season has seen them lose a league joint lowest of two games. They were humiliated by Lyon and then lost to Lille, two of the three teams currently in the Champions League.
The game against PSG will be one Angers will be looking forward to and if they can pull off a shock result, it may be the motivation Moulin’s side may be looking for to ensuring they have a season to remember.
Since gaining promotion to the top tier, Angers have lost 8 of their previous 9 meetings with PSG including all the last 8.
Last season, PSG defeated Angers in both games including a 3-1 victory in the reverse fixture.
The French Ligue One match-day 9 kicks off on Friday with Amiens at home to Marseille.
Amiens are struggling at the wrong end of the table despite drawing 1-1 away to high flying Angers last time out.
They have won just two games this season and coupled with two draws, their tally is only good for 8 points so far.
For Marseille, they are in desperate need for victory.
The draw at home to Rennes last Sunday was their third on the trot and it leaves them with just three victories and in 5th spot.
Andre Villas-Boaz’s side will be beaming with confidence as they have defeated Amiens in all 4 of thier top flight meetings so far.
All the Ligue One match-day 9 fixtures
Friday, 04-10-2019
-Amiens vs Marseille @9:45pm
Saturday, 05-10-2019
-PSG vs Angers @6:30pm
-Dijon vs Strasbourg @9pm
-Montpellier vs Monaco @9pm
-Toulouse vs Bordeaux @9pm
-Brest vs Metz @9pm
-Nantes vs Nice @9pm
Sunday, 06-10-2019
-Lille vs Nimes @4pm
-Rennes vs Reims @6pm
-Saint Etienne vs Lyon @10pm
