Undefeated with already 13 goals scored in 4 matches, the Principality club will count on its flamboyant attack to win in Lorient on Sunday and keep its leadership position.
Despite an elimination in the 3rd preliminary qualifying round for the Champions League against PSV Eindhoventhe Monegasques were able to raise their heads to get off to a perfect start to this new Ligue 1 season.
13 goals scored, 3 victories in 4 matches and a leadership position, AS Monaco’s start to the season is almost perfect. When facing Lorient at the Stade du Moustoir (1:00 p.m.) for the 5th day of Ligue 1, ASM will once again be able to count on its prolific attack led by the trio Ben Yedder, Golovin, Minamino, authors of 7 of the 13 goals scored by the Monegasque team since the start of the season. The Principality club currently has the best attack in the five major European championships.
“Hunger for victory”
This playing philosophy comes from the Austrian coach of the Monegasques, Adi Hütter, who arrived this summer to replace Philippe Clément. Before the match against Nantes on the 3rd daythe ASM technician explained at a press conference “that his team was getting closer and closer» of the style he wishes to put in place, highlighting the fact that Monaco “scored a lot in every match” and that the team had “hunger for victory”.
Monaco striker Wissam Ben Yedder is currently second top scorer in Ligue 1 with 4 goals, just behind Kylian Mbappé and his 7 goals. After a very complicated season last year, the other offensive wisp of the ASM, the Japanese Takumi Minamino, wreaks havoc with 3 goals scored in 4 matches. The Ben Yedder-Minamino duo is quite simply the most effective in Europe currently. The rest of the Monegasque team also knows how to be decisive against opposing nets, six other players have already scored at least one goal for AS Monaco this season.
The Monegasques also have impressive bench depth. As evidence the arrival this summer of the American striker, Folarin Balogun, 4th top scorer in Ligue 1 last season. The former Arsenal player scored 21 goals last season with Reims and remains, for the moment, a substitute with ASM.
Benjamin Mendy returns with Lorient
The Red and White score a lot, but they also create a lot of chances. With no less than 7.6 “expected goals” in the first four matches, according to reports from Stats PerformAS Monaco is the team that creates the most chances per match in Europe.
With only one victory in four matches and 11th place in the Ligue 1 standings, FC Lorient will have a hard time facing the Monegasque attack. Author of the best season in its history in the elite of French football last season, the Breton club is struggling to start again on the same bases in this 2023-24 financial year.
The Merlus will nevertheless be able to count on the return of Benjamin Mendy. Back in Ligue 1 after his acquittalthe former player of the France team and Manchester City trained normally this week and he is part of the Breton group which will face AS Monaco this Sunday.