Good evening and welcome to Sports Mole for live text commentary of tonight's Ligue 1 clash between AS Monaco and Valenciennes at Stade Louis II.
Claudio Ranieri's men have won their last five games and will go top of the league if they make it six in front of their home fans this evening.
Meanwhile, the visitors in 18th place, five points adrift of Montpellier HSC and without a win since October (nine matches).
Please note that kickoff is at 7.30pm.
Good evening! Welcome to Sports Mole for live text commentary of tonight's Ligue 1 clash between AS Monaco and Valenciennes at Stade Louis II.
MONACO XI: Subasic; Raggi, Carvalho, Abidal, Kurzawa; Moutinho, Toulalan, Obbadi; Riviere, Rodriguez, Martial
VALENCIENNES XI: Penneteau; Musuako, Lala, Kagelmacher, Ciss; Mater, Ducourtioux, Enza Yamissi; Doumbia, Dossevi, Bahebeck
Despite being the underdogs this evening, Valenciennes actually have a great recent record against Monaco. They are undefeated in nine of their last 10 matches in all competitions (via WhoScored?); it's only recent financial developments with the Monegasque club that sees them as overwhelming favourites for a sixth straight victory.
Monaco have scored 30 goals in Ligue 1 this season, second behind Paris Saint-Germain (42). Their defence has also been solid, conceding 11 goals - the second best record behind Lille (6). The visitors have scored a measly 15 and shipped 35, giving them the third worst goal difference in the league (-12).
Of course, there is no Radamel Falcao in the Monaco lineup this evening. He misses his fifth match with a niggling thigh muscle injury. The Colombian is fit enough for a place in the bench, though, alongside Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco and Lucas Ocampos. Geoffrey Kondogbia is also among the substitutes should Claudio Ranieri need added steel in the midfield department.
The teams are making their way from the tunnel at Stade Louis II. Not long until kickoff now.
Everyone has shook hands and we're good to go. Monaco are in their usual red and white kit, while Valencinnes are in their changed purple strip.
KICKOFF! The referee blows his whistle and the visitors get the game underway.
PENALTY APPEAL! Valenciennes show a bit of attacking intent early on at Stade Louis II, with Kenny Lala getting down the right and delivering the ball into the area, only for Subasic to come out and claim safely. Down the other end though, Riviere tries to cross from the byline but the ball hits Ciss on the arm. The referee isn't interest, and rightly so. It would have been harsh.
Ariel Jacobs's side have started well. They're enjoying a sustained spell in possession at the moment.
Martial wins a free kick 24 metres from goal. It looked a rather soft decision, but it's well within range for Moutinho and Riviere. It's the latter who takes it, but it's a disappointing result. Straight into the wall.
A header back to Penneteau nearly gives Riviere a run at the goalkeeper, who gets to the loose ball in time.
Ducourtioux gets a talking to from the ref after pulling down Rodriguez. The free kick into the box is towards the back post, but Valenciennes clear their lines.
A moment of hesitation in the Monaco defence nearly lets Valenciennes in but the final ball from Ducourtioux to Bahebeck isn't good enough.
SAVE! The ball is clipped into the box for Riviere, but his header is straight at Penneteau. He couldn't get any power behind it.
It's been a confident start from Valenciennes, who have showed that they'll be no pushovers this evening. Still a long way to go, of course.
CHANCE! Best opening of the match so far and it's Valenciennes who create it. Mater turned inside his marker down the right and played a lovely ball into Dossevi, who was closed down by Subasic from a tight angle. The goalkeeper did very well.
BLOCK! A nice ball from Rodriguez frees Kurzawa down the right and his cut back finds Obbadi all alone inside the box, but Ducourtioux gets the vital block. Rodriguez then has a pop from distance after Monaco dispossess Valenciennes in midfield, but Penneteau is down well to save.
SHOT! Monaco are starting to come on strong now. They go close once again as Obbadi takes the ball up in the attacking half and unleashes one from distance. Penneteau is there to push around the post, though.
GOAL! Monaco 0-1 Valenciennes (Eric Abidal, og) Valencinnes tried to break on the counter from a Monaco set piece, but the final ball is lacking once again. However, they have still managed to take the lead thanks to an own goal from Eric Abidal. It was a scuffed cross from Masuaku that forced the defender to turn the ball past Subasic at the near post under pressure.
DISALLOWED! Monaco think that they have equalised when Kurzawa taps in after Penneteau saves from martial, but the flag is up. The youngster was offside. Martial has already shown in this match that he has a bright future ahead of him.
Monaco are seeing a lot of the ball and do carry a lot of attacking threat, they are just not making the most of their opportunities in the final third. They have had 68% possession so far, but have found Penneteau in decent form.
Another free kick into the box fails to trouble the Valenciennes defence. The ball goes out for a corner, and once again the Monaco players scramble over themselves to get a touch on it. There doesn't seem to be a clear plan from set pieces.
PENALTY APPEAL! Martial goes down inside the area claiming for a penalty. It was clumsy from behind, and you've seen them given, but on this occasion the referee takes no action. Toulalan then gets forward and unleashes a shot, but Penneteau is down to it.
CLOSE! Moutinho bends a right-footed free kick just wide of the post. Penneteau didn't make an effort.
HALF TIME: Monaco 0-1 Valenciennes
The visitors survive with a one-goal lead at the half-time break. They've got a big 45 minutes ahead of them in the principality. Monaco have shown enough to suggest that they're capable of turning this game around.
Rudy Mater, Arthur Masuaku and David Ducourtioux have been brilliant for Valenciennes so far. They have worked hard for the defence, restricting Monaco to mainly half chances.
MONACO STATS:
Shots: 11
On target: 5
Possession: 67%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 4
Yellow: 0
Red: 0
Shots: 11
On target: 5
Possession: 67%
Corners: 7
Fouls: 4
Yellow: 0
Red: 0
VALENCIENNES STATS:
Shots: 1
On target: 1
Possession: 33%
Corners: 1
Fouls: 9
Yellow: 1
Red: 0
Shots: 1
On target: 1
Possession: 33%
Corners: 1
Fouls: 9
Yellow: 1
Red: 0
Monaco have had plenty of opportunities to deliver telling balls into the box from set pieces, but are yet to really threaten from one. The goal that was disallowed was from a recycled corner. A lot of the threat has come from Obbadi, Rodriguez and Moutinho from deep. Riviere had one chance, but headed tamely at Penneteau.
Radamel Falcao has been warming up at half time. Will his introduction come immediately after the break or will Claudio Ranieri give it a bit longer?
MONACO SUB: Radamel Falcao does indeed come on for Emmanuele Riviere.
SECOND HALF UNDERWAY! Monaco kickoff the second half at Stade Louis II.
Penneteau gets himself in a tangle coming out to claim the ball, and in the resulting scramble to clear the ball Ducourtious gives away another free kick. Will Monaco finally punish them?
CLOSE! Oh my word, Moutinho whips another vicious free kick towards the top corner that has Penneteau beaten. However, it drifts just by the post. That's twice the Portuguese midfielder has come close to equalising either side of the half-time break.
PENALTY APPEAL! Martial drifts inside and shoots at goal, but Penneteau gets a hand to it. Rodriguez then goes down inside the area claiming for a penalty, but the referee says that Ducourtioux did nothing wrong.
BOOKING! Ciss joins Masuaku in the book for a foul on Martial.
Valenciennes break on the counter and it's Dossevi who has a go. Subasic saves comfortably.
Penneteau climbs high and beats away a dangerous looking cross from Moutinho. There weren't many Valenciennes defenders challenging the knock down, but they managed to get the ball clear.
GOAL! Monaco 0-2 Valenciennes (David Ducourtioux)
Monaco are all at sea as David Ducourtioux is sent galloping into an unmanned half on the counter attack. He showed a cool head to slot underneath Subasic and double his team's lead. Could the visitors breath fresh life into their battle against relegation!?
CHANGES! Monaco made a change just before that goal, with Lucas Ocampos coming on to replace Anthony Martial. Ariel Jacobs has just made his first swap, as Maor Melikson makes way for Jose Saez.
MONACO SUB: Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco comes on for Andrea Raggi. A very attacking change from Ranieri, as you'd expect at this point.
The home side are probing but creating very little. They are extremely exposed at the back and Valenciennes look dangerous every time they counter. This time they have three on three and Dossevi gets half a yard in the area, but his shot is blocked.
BOOKING! Rudy Mater is cautioned for a foul on Lucas Ocampos.
CHANCE! A big chance to kill the game is squandered by Saez! Monaco are desperately short of numbers at the back once again, and the substitute is played one on one by Mater. He couldn't make the right contact, though, and Monaco have been let off. Games can turn on moments like that, Ariel Jacobs will be hoping that's not the case.
Another free kick for Monaco, and another chance to deliver a dangerous ball. So many wasted opportunities tonight, though. And this is another one.
The linesman gives Monaco a goal kick when it looked like Abidal knocked it out. Dossevi just gets on with it. The whole Valenciennes team have shown a fantastic attitude tonight. Mater and Ducourtioux have been particularly impressive.
SAVE! What a stop from Penneteau! Sharp reflexes to deny Falcao from a header! The linesman had his flag up, so it wouldn't have counted anyway. Still, credit where it's due.
PENALTY TO MONACO!
SAVE! Falcao goes down inside the box and the referee does not hesitate to point to the spot. He was looking for it by leaving his trailing leg out. The Colombian picks himself up and takes it, but it's a woeful effort. Straight at Penneteau, who beats it away.
GOAL! Monaco 1-2 Valenciennes (James Rodriguez)
Valenciennes finally succumb! Rodriguez buries a head after being left alone on the penalty spot. Game on!
DISALLOWED! A dangerous ball into the box from a free kick is knocked back across goal for Rodriguez to sweep home at the far post. However, the linesman correctly rules the Colombian offside. Valenciennes breathe again.
Ranieri is not a happy man on the touchline. As it stands, his team will stay two points behind Paris Saint-Germain this evening.
There will be three minutes of time added on. Valenciennes are toughing it out, but Monaco are pushing.
Rudy Mater with a brilliant defensive header back to Penneteau. He really has been superb tonight. Man of the match is a toss up between him and David Ducourtioux. My preference would be for the former.
Subasic comes up for the final free kick but it's another one wasted.
FULL TIME: Monaco 1-2 Valenciennes
What a start to the final weekend of Ligue 1 action in 2013! Valenciennes pull off a major chock by defeating Monaco at Stade Louis II! What's more, it is thoroughly deserved. They may have rode their luck at times, but you come to expect that when you are playing a team challenging for the title.
They have now pulled to within two points of safety, with Montpellier HSC due to play at Bastia tomorrow. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain can stretch their lead at the top to five points if they can beat Lille on Sunday. Les Dogues will overtake Rasnieri's side in second place if they can nab three points at Parc des Princes.
So it's a fascinating battle at the top as Liguer 1 enters the winter break. Thanks for joining us at Sports mole this evening, please come back again soon.
