Lorient hosts Monaco: Will the defense around Touré stay?

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Lorient hosts Monaco: Will the defense around Touré stay.

FC Lorient picked up confidence with last weekend's 1:0 win over Paris FC – but now AS Monaco awaits, and they are an entirely different caliber. On Sunday (October 18), Les Merlus host the Monegasque top club at 5:15 PM for Matchday 7 of Ligue 1 at the Stade du Moustoir. And coach Alexandre Dujeux reportedly plans to stick with his recently proven defense.

Dujeux sticks with what works

As Ouest-France reports, Dujeux is likely to field a starting eleven very similar to the one from the 1:0 win over Paris FC a week ago. The defense appeared "solid" against the capital side and should therefore remain nearly unchanged. Above all, center-back Isaak Touré, who left a confident impression recently, is set to start again. In the predicted lineup, Ouest-France also names Bernardeau and Baldé as possible starters.

Monaco as a real acid test

However, AS Monaco is a visitor that embodies a different class league-wide. While Paris FC, as a promoted side, posed a very different sporting challenge than the star ensemble from the principality, the Red-Whites travel to Brittany with their exceptional offensive talents. For Lorient, it will come down to defending their recent defensive stability against Monaco's individually high-class attack – otherwise, the return on Sunday is likely to be significantly smaller than it was a week ago.

Kickoff at the Stade du Moustoir is Sunday at 5:15 PM. The final lineups of both teams will be officially announced about an hour beforehand.