Heavy favorites at home in this Ligue 1 showdown, OM welcome an AS Monaco side defined by total inconsistency. Capable of brilliance but even more prone to collapse, the seventh-placed team in Ligue 1 still has the tools to silence the Vélodrome.
The Speed of Folarin Balogun
Sébastien Pocognoli’s preferred starter, the U.S. international is a key piece in Monaco’s new system. Surrounded by a trio of creative players, Balogun offers solutions through sharp off-the-ball runs, physical presence, and his ability to draw defenders toward him. Able to withstand physical duels, he also knows how to play smart and wait for his moment. He can create chances on his own, and while he has often lacked efficiency in front of goal, his movement helps Monaco play vertically.
Against a Marseille defense that lines up in a back three when in possession, OM have shown issues with alignment. These are exactly the types of situations Balogun can exploit, as seen on Tuesday against Union in the Champions League.
Isolating Aubameyang to Greenwood
This season, Aubameyang plays a crucial role in Marseille’s attacking sequences. Sometimes the finisher, though less clinical than in 2023–2024, he primarily enables Greenwood to be dangerous. Often used as a target man, his technical accuracy opens space for the Englishman’s driving runs from the right flank. Kehrer and Salisu will need to isolate the Gabonese striker from Greenwood, as this combination is one of OM’s main sources of chances. Aubameyang’s role has evolved compared to last season: less of a pure scorer, he is now a key facilitator in De Zerbi’s system, consistently elevating his teammates’ play.
Exploiting Marseille’s flank
The wings are Marseille’s main offensive weapons. In buildup play, OM commit two players per side to stretch the opposition block and create danger. This approach, however, leaves the flanks exposed during transitions. That is where Monaco’s fullbacks can showcase their qualities. True counterattacking threats, Vanderson and Henrique can create numerical superiority, especially on the left, where Paixão is used as a left-back without the ball. It was precisely on Paixão’s side that Khalaili scored both of his goals against OM on Tuesday for Union Saint-Gilloise.
Monaco must pull off a result at the Vélodrome to stay in touch with the podium race and finally spark a run of consistency that has so far proven elusive.