Everything you need to know before the AS Monaco vs. Amiens SC match tonight, December 4th, 2018. The Rouges et Blancs will travel to the Stade de la Licorne for their 16th Ligue 1 match of the season.
This is a pivotal moment for Thierry Henry’s AS Monaco side who have struggled greatly thus far this season mustering only 2 wins and currently sitting at 19th on the league table. Their opponent, Amiens is currently sitting just above them at 18th. Coming out of matches like this one with a victory will be key in Monaco’s efforts to avoid relegation and remain in France’s top flight next season.
Monaco’s recent performance
In their most recent match against Montpellier, Monaco displayed flashes of life. They led the match early on and almost went up 2-0 as a Golovin shot glanced off the bar and out of play. They will need to create more goal-scoring opportunities and also capitalize on them in order to have a fighting chance. This will especially help alleviate a flailing defense that displays somewhere in between little commitment and total apathy at times. Montpellier needed only 6 minutes of intensity to beat Monegasque keeper Benaglio twice. The sequence completely deflated the young Monaco side who spent the rest of the game reacting rather than executing.
A limited squad against Amiens
ASM taking advantage of Amiens’ less than stellar form is more than a strategic play, it is a dire need in the hopes of avoiding relegation. Performing well against other teams situated at the bottom of the table can and will have a profound effect on the end-of-season tally.
Not helping the Monegasque cause is the number of injuries currently stacked on their roster. The list reaches almost 15 players – a new record. Among them is Portuguese international Rony Lopes. In early September, Lopes was to be absent “between 3 and 4 weeks,” but the player has yet to take the field this season. Despite his physical form, Monaco recently renewed his contract. Lopes is joined in the medical ward by Jovetic, Geubbels, Subasic, Sidibé, and Traoré and others.
Thierry Henry has therefore summoned twenty Monegasques including Kamil Glik, back from injury, and a slew of youth players. Hopefully, the cobbled-together side can put together a coherent effort in tonight’st match.
Kickoff is at 7 PM.