Lyon vs AS Monaco Prediction 22.03.2026 | Ligue 1

Olympique Lyonnais head into this high-profile Sunday clash at a delicate juncture in their campaign, currently clinging to fourth place in the Ligue 1 standings with 47 points, despite a noticeable dip in domestic momentum.

Les Gones find themselves mired in a frustrating dry spell, having failed to secure victory in each of their last four top-flight outings, a run that reached a low point with a toothless goalless stalemate against a 10-man Le Havre AC side last weekend.

Their struggles domestically have been further compounded by the psychological fallout from a midweek UEFA Europa League elimination, as Celta Vigo stunned them with a 2-0 victory on French soil, extinguishing their hopes of silverware and leaving the pursuit of a UEFA Champions League qualification spot as their sole remaining objective.

To make matters worse for Olympique Lyonnais, Paulo Fonseca must also contend with a depleted squad, as Ruben Kluivert, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, top scorer Pavel Sulc, and Ernest Nuamah remain sidelined through injury, while Tyler Morton is unavailable due to suspension after accumulating yellow cards.

Meanwhile, AS Monaco arrive at the Groupama Stadium as arguably the division’s most in-form outfit, having thrust themselves firmly into the Champions League conversation on the back of an impressive run of six victories from their last seven Ligue 1 outings.

Under the astute guidance of Sebastien Pocognoli, Les Monegasques have undergone a notable transformation, evolving from early-season inconsistency into a well-drilled and tactically cohesive unit, a progression emphatically underlined by their commanding 3-1 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.

At the back, Monaco have displayed renewed solidity, recording two clean sheets in their last three league appearances, and with momentum firmly on their side, a sixth consecutive victory would see them close the gap on third-placed Olympique de Marseille to within touching distance.

However, much like their hosts, the Principality side are contending with a growing list of absentees, as Mohammed Salisu, Eric Dier, Vanderson, Paul Pogba, Krepin Diatta and Takumi Minamino are all unavailable, while Caio Henrique remains a doubt.