Monaco vs Juventus Prediction: Old Lady to overcome handicap

AS Monaco are enduring a miserable Ligue 1 season, but despite a 6-1 hammering at Real Madrid last week, Les Rouge et Blanc are still in the top 24 of the Uefa Champions League league phase and are on course to reach the play-offs.

However, on Wednesday (20:00 GMT, Discovery+), they face a tough test against Juventus, who head to the Stade Louis II looking for a win that could lift them up to the top eight and see the Old Lady qualify directly to the last 16. Read on for my Monaco v Juventus predictions, alongside team news and match odds.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Team News

Paul Pogba (calf), Eric Dier (thigh), Christian Mawissa (hamstring) and knee-injury victims Mohammed Salisu, Takumi Minamino and Lukas Hradecky are out injured for Monaco.

Neither Wout Faes nor Krepin Diatta are allowed to feature for Sebastien Pocognoli's side as they aren't in Monaco's Champions League squad, and in any case, Faes is sidelined with an ankle injury.

Football Odds

Daniele Rugani (calf), Dusan Vlahovic (groin) and long-term absentee Arkadiusz Milik (unspecified) miss out for Juventus, whose head coach Luciano Spalletti may decide to make only one change to his starting XI following Sunday's 3-0 victory over Napoli in Serie A, with Francisco Conceicao in danger of dropping down to the bench for Fabio Miretti.

Monaco vs Juventus Odds

Monaco are 12/5 underdogs here, implying a 29.4% probability of success, while Juventus are 21/20 (48.8%) to triumph on their European travels for just the second time this term, with the draw priced at 5/2.

Handicap -1 - Juventus -1 @ 11/4

Monaco have already taken a couple of batterings in this season’s competition, losing 4-1 at Club Brugge and 6-1 at Real Madrid, although they are unbeaten on home soil, drawing with Manchester City (2-2) and Tottenham Hotspur (0-0) before beating Galatasaray (1-0).

Those stalemates with the two Premier League sides both came in October, though, while that victory over Galatasaray was on December 9.

Since that win against the Turkish Super Lig side, Monaco have won just two of their seven games (D1, L4) - both away from home in the Coupe de France, and the second of those victories was at third-tier Orleans

Today's Football Fixtures

Monaco’s three defeats this calendar year have all been by a margin of two goals or greater, and they’ve lost eight games this season by 2+ strikes.

Juve, meanwhile, have overcome a -1 handicap eight times this term, including twice in the last week as they followed up a 2-0 victory over Benfica with a 3-0 success against reigning Serie A champions Napoli on Sunday.

Bet Builder - Lloyd Kelly & Bremer (both JUV) 2+ Fouls Each @ 3/1

At least one opposition centre-back has committed 2+ fouls in Monaco’s last six European contests.

Manchester City’s Ruben Dias (two), Tottenham Hotspur’s Micky van de Ven (two), Bodo/Glimt pair Brede Moe (three) and Jostein Gundersen (two), Pafos’ Derrick Luckassen (two), Galatasaray’s Davinson Sanchez (four) and Real Madrid’s Dean Huijsen (three) have all made multiple fouls against Monaco players, with striker Folarin Balogun playing the most pivotal role.

The ex-Arsenal man has won 15 fouls - six more than any of his teammates - across his seven appearances, averaging 2.4 per 90 minutes. He was fouled five times last time out against Real Madrid, and he could pose similar problems for Juve’s defenders on Wednesday.

Centre-backs Lloyd Kelly and Bremer recorded three and four fouls apiece, respectively, in their 2-0 victory over Benfica last week, with the Englishman booked for one of his indiscretions.

Both defenders are averaging 2.5 fouls per 90 in this season’s Champions League, although Bremer has played just twice, committing five fouls, while Kelly’s club-high 16 - seven more than any of his teammates - come from six matches.

Bet Builder Winnings Bonus

Opt in req. Bet Builder single (3/1+) on selected matches. 3+ legs. 50% cash winnings bonus. No pre-built Builders. Paid in 24hrs. £20 max stake. Max one bonus per customer. T&Cs Apply.

Sports Welcome Offer

New customers only. Deposit via Debit Card & place first bet £10+ (1/1+) on Sports in 7 days. £30 Sports & £20 Acca Free Bets within 10 hrs of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility, payment excl. & T&Cs Apply.

Opt in & build your own Bet Builder (3/1+) of 3+ legs on any Champions League match on Wednesday and get a 50% cash Winnings Bonus if your bet wins!

Get Turbo Boosted odds on the Champions League! (Available from 12:00 28/01)