Monaco vs Lorient Prediction: More pain for Pocognoli’s side

AS Monaco and FC Lorient, ranked ninth and 12th in Ligue 1, respectively, and separated by just four points after 17 rounds of fixtures, meet at the Stade Louis II on Friday evening (18:00 GMT, Ligue 1 Pass).

Below are my Monaco vs Lorient predictions, supported by all the latest team news, ahead of the second meeting of the season between these sides, with Friday's hosts looking to exact revenge following their 3-1 defeat in September.

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Team News

Where do you even begin to start with Monaco's lengthy list of absentees?

Knee-injury victims Takumi Minamino and Lukas Hradecky are definitely sidelined for Les Rouges et Blancs, as are Pape Cabral (muscle), Paul Pogba (calf) and Christian Mawissa (hamstring), while Vanderson and Ansu Fati (both muscle) are both doubtful of featuring on Friday.

On the suspension front, Thilo Kehrer, Mohammed Salisu, Mamadou Coulibaly and Stanis Idumbo miss out, while Lamine Camara and Krepin Diatta are still on international duty with Senegal, who will play hosts Morocco in Sunday's 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final.

Football Odds

Lorient are nowhere near as troubled, although Isaak Toure, Aiyegun Tosin (both knee) and Panos Katseris (thigh) are all expected to sit out Friday's fixture.

Monaco vs Lorient Odds

Monaco are 4/7 to claim all three points, implying a 63.6% probability of success, while Lorient are 9/2, or an 18.2% chance, with the draw offered at 16/5.

Betfred have boosted Lorient To Score In Both Halves to 4/1 (was 10/3) and Mike Biereth To Score 2+ Goals to 13/2 (was 11/2).

Double Chance - Draw or Lorient @ 13/10

Lorient won the reverse fixture 3-1 in September, extending their unbeaten run against Monaco to three games, while they've lost just one of the last eight head-to-heads (W2, D6, L1).

Olivier Pantaloni's side arrive at the Stade Louise II this Friday on the back of a six-game unbeaten run in Ligue 1 (W2, D4), in stark contrast to their hosts, Monaco, who have lost six of their last seven (W1) in the French top flight.

Today's Football Fixtures

Injuries and suspensions are biting Sebastien Pocognoli's charges hard right now, and you'd be a brave person to back them for a win in the near future.

Still, I'm finding it difficult to go all in on Lorient, who are yet to win on their league travels this season, drawing three and losing five of their eight away games.

The draw may well appeal here at 16/5, but my first selection is Draw or Lorient in the Double Chance market.

Total Goals - Under 2.5 @ 11/8

Five of Lorient's last six league games, including their most recent two, have finished with two or fewer goals, while three of Monaco's last four in Ligue 1 have ended in a single strike.

Lorient have scored twice and conceded 14 on their travels, with their eight away matches averaging exactly two goals,

With Monaco scoring just twice across their last four league contests, and only four across their last five at home, Under 2.5 Total Goals may be the way to go on Friday.