Preview: Troyes vs. Monaco - prediction, team news, lineups

Winless Monaco will look to kickstart their Ligue 1 season when they travel to Troyes on Sunday.

The Monegasques have picked up just one point from their opening three games, while the Grand Est side are also yet to pick up a victory following promotion from the second tier.

Match preview

© Reuters

After finishing third in Ligue 1 in 2020-21, their highest finish since 2018, Monaco have begun the new campaign looking out of sorts, despite spending more than €30m (£25.7m) in the summer on Myron Boadu, Jean Lucas and Ismail Jakobs.

After drawing 1-1 with Nantes on the opening weekend, Niko Kovac's men lost 1-0 away at Lorient and then were beaten 2-0 at home by Lens last weekend, having Aleksandr Golovin sent off late on to compound their woes.

Things did not get any better on Wednesday night, as Monaco drew 2-2 with Shakhtar Donetsk in the second leg of their Champions League playoff tie, meaning they lost 3-2 on aggregate and will drop into the Europa League group stage.

Kovac admitted that "sometimes football is really cruel" after his side's stoppage-time exit in Ukraine, and the players will certainly be fatigued physically and emotionally going into Sunday.

Monaco are unbeaten in their last four matches against Troyes however, with the Grand Est outfit last victorious in 2012.

© Reuters

While Monaco's poor start has been unexpected, Troyes would have known they were in for a tricky campaign – their last four seasons in the top flight have ended in relegation, while they have not spent consecutive seasons in Ligue 1 since 2006.

Laurent Batlles's side lost just once at home on their way to the Ligue 2 title last season, ending their three-year absence from the top flight.

Troyes actually took the lead against Paris Saint-Germain on the opening weekend of the campaign but went on to lose 2-1, before being beaten 2-0 by fellow newly-promoted outfit Clermont Foot.

A first point arrived last weekend in a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg, as last season's top scorer Yoann Touzghar opened the scoring early on before les Coureurs equalised 13 minutes from time.

Batlles has praised his side for creating chances in the opening three games, but admitted "we need to be better at putting them away".

Team News

© Reuters

World Cup winner Adil Rami signed for Troyes on Tuesday, but the 35-year-old may have to wait for his debut.

Right-back Issa Kabore, on loan from Manchester City, is available for selection again after being suspended for the trip to Strasbourg.

After being heavily linked with a move away from the club this summer, Yoann Touzghar has signed a new deal with Troyes and will continue to start upfront.

Aleksandr Golovin's red card last weekend makes him ineligible for Sunday's game for Monaco; Gelson Martins should replace him on the right wing.

Myron Boadu is pushing for a start upfront alongside Wissam Ben Yedder, who hit 20 goals in Ligue 1 last season but has failed to score in the first three league games of the new campaign.

Strahinja Pavlovic and Krepin Diatta were both absent from the trip to Shakhtar Donetsk in midweek, making them doubts for this match.

Troyes possible starting lineup:
Gallon; Kabore, Hajjam, Giraudon, Salmier, Biancone; Balde, Kouame, Tardieu, Ripart; Touzghar

Monaco possible starting lineup:
Nubel; Aguilar, Disasi, Pavlovic, Jakobs; Martins, Tchouameni, Lucas, Diop; Ben Yedder, Boadu

We say: Troyes 0-1 Monaco

Monaco find themselves going through a rough patch with the season not even a month old, but this could be the game that gives them a lift going into the international break.

Troyes are still finding their feet following promotion and have not shown much to suggest they will survive so far, so we think it will be a narrow away win.