Instead of vying for Champions League positions, Lyon and Monaco sit just above the bottom three at the moment, so no doubt both sides will be eager to kick-start their season.

After showing some promise last season, les Gones started the new campaign brightly, winning both Europa League matches against Mlada Boleslav while defeating Rennes in their opening Ligue 1 fixture.

However, the good run was short lived as Lyon suffered three straight losses in the league, to Toulouse, Lens and Metz, while also crashing out of Europe at the hands of Astra Giurgiu.

Numerous injury problems certainly played a part, but few more poor results and new boss Hubert Fournier will be under extreme pressure.

The coach has seen several first team players resume full training during the international break and now his charges are 2.62 (13/8) to end the barren run against Monaco.

Steed Malbranque and Mohamed Yattara are back in contention after recovering from injury, while Yoann Gourcuff, Nabil Fekir and Samuel Umtiti remain doubtful.

The likes of Clement Grenier, Milan Bisevac, Yassine Benzia and Gueida Fofana are not yet ready to return into action.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Lopes – Jallet, Kone, Gonalons, Zeffane – Ferri, Tolisso, Mvuemba – Yattara, Lacazette, Ghezzal.

Monaco produced quite a coup by achieving a second-place finish in French Ligue 1 last term, but repeating the success could prove to be a very difficult task.

Rather than further reinforcing the squad to ensure the team can mount another serious title challenge, the club chiefs allowed star players James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao to leave without signing worthy replacements.

It is, therefore, not surprising that fans are furious with the club management, as they see nobody else to blame for the dismal start to the season.

While they prepare for the Champions League bow, Monaco have picked up mere four points from as many league fixtures, although Leonardo Jardim’s side did show some improvement of late.

Having lost to Lorient and Bordeaux, the Principality club defeated Nantes away before sharing spoils with Lille, and they are now 3.20 (11/5) to defeat Lyon on the road.

Aymen Abdennour has picked up a thigh injury while on international duty, joining Lacina Traore and Borja Lopez in the infirmary. Layvin Kurzawa should be able to shake off a minor knock he sustained while playing for France Under-21 side.

Probable starting line-up (4-3-3): Subasic – Fabinho, Raggi, Carvalho, Kurzawa – Moutinho, Toulalan, Kondogbia – Ferreira Carrasco, Berbatov, Germain.