Guingamp vs Monaco Predictions

Monaco have really sorted themselves out since Leonardo Jardim’s return as they have lost just one of their last eight matches. However, that defeat was their most recent match and highlighted the problems still engrained in this team. They faced bottom side Caen at home but just couldn’t create anything of quality as they fell to a 1-0 defeat. Monaco had eight shots on target, 13 corners and the bulk of the possession but just couldn’t break down Caen. It was a pretty embarrassing defeat for Jardim and his team and one that they really need to bounce back from if they are to be taken seriously going forward. 

The seven results before their defeat to Caen may look good on paper but they really struggled in some easy matches as they only just scraped past Toulouse (2-1) and Nantes (1-0). The draws with Bordeaux (1-1) and Angers (2-2) also weren’t overly impressive, so there is still a lot to be worked on in the principality, despite the evident upturn in form. They have kept just one clean sheet in their last eight games against bottom ten opposition and with Guingamp desperate for points, it could get ugly. 

Guingamp currently boast the worst defensive and offensive records in the league with 53 goals conceded and just 19 scored in their 30 Ligue 1 matches this season. This really is some difficult reading for Guingamp fans and as a result they sit second bottom in the league. They have won just two of their last ten league games but still have a chance of survival as they are just one point off of Dijon in the relegation play-off place. They recently beat Dijon so absolutely have the quality to finish 18th but they need to show that against other teams between now and May.

Guingamp’s defence has improved in recent weeks but their attack has remained just as poor. They have kept five clean sheets in their last seven games, conceding just three goals in the process but they haven’t been able to capitalise on this, with their pretty weak attack bringing them just three goals in their last nine games. Guingamp lost 2-0 to Montpellier in midweek and actually offered quite a bit of threat with three shots on target and eight corners but none of these turned into goals, which is quite worrying. 

Neither side has been incredible recently, however Guingamp have actually been okay at home in the last few games with two wins and a draw in their last three matches at the Stade du Roudourou. Monaco did win their last away game but they were very much up against it, as has been the case with many of their matches on the road as they have won just one of their last six. The season is really entering crunch time for these two teams and with Monaco losing last week to Caen, who sit one place above Guingamp, we’re backing the home side to get there crucial three points here. There are still a lot of problems in Monaco which is why they sit 16th and we feel they don’t have enough about them to outfight the doggedness of Guingamp. Just one of Monaco’s last six games and one of Guingamp’s last nine matches have seen over 2.5 goals so we’re backing a low-scoring fixture here. We predict a 1-0 win for Guingamp here. These teams have already played each other twice this season, with Guingamp winning once in the league and another time on penalties in the Coupe de la Ligue.