Girondins de Bordeaux - AS Monaco

- kick-off: 16:05 GMT

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It has been a difficult season so far for six-time French champions Bordeaux. Les Girondins were 12th in Ligue 1 Uber Eats last term and big things were expected when they appointed former Switzerland manager Vladimir Petkovic at the start of the campaign.

However, they come into this Round 25 clash rooted to the foot of the table on 20 points, the 5-0 reverse against Stade de Reims two weeks ago proving to be the final straw for the club, who moved to appoint Guion - most recently of Reims - to oversee their survival attempt.

Unpleasant reading

Bordeaux haven't beaten Monaco since November 2019 and they have conceded the most goals of any club in Europe's top five leagues per UEFA coefficient with 61, but Guion is convinced he can turn things around.

Watch: Highlights of Bordeaux's 3-2 loss in Lens last time out

"It was an obvious choice to come here," the new coach explained at his first press conference. "Bordeaux are a prestigious club with a lot of history. This mission seems to be tailor-made for me. It's a really difficult but exciting and fascinating challenge. I really want to take it up and leave the club in the top flight because that's where it belongs.

"The players are lacking confidence, we saw that in the last few games, but I'm very motivated by the idea of bringing in my expertise and experience. I don't see a squad that's too affected. I see a team that wants to get back on its feet, and get the club out of this position. This week, I felt a lot of support for what I was saying. The players are totally involved and aware of the situation."

Costil calf injury

Not every player will be totally involved this weekend. Goalkeeper and captain Benoît Costil has a calf injury, while striker Jimmy Briand and promising midfielder Tom Lacoux are out with foot and groin complaints respectively. Ukrainian midfielder Danylo Ihnatenko, who joined from Shakhtar Donetsk in the winter transfer window, serves the second of a two-game suspension, meanwhile.

Visitors Monaco are sixth in the table on 37 points, only behind Stade Rennais FC - who occupy the fifth and final European place - on goal-difference. The principality side were held to a goalless draw by lowly FC Lorient last Sunday, though, and Guion's opposite number Philippe Clement doesn't want to see a repeat.

Watch: Highlights of Monaco's 0-0 draw with Lorient

"I always see things to improve upon, even when we're in a good run," said the coach, who succeeded Niko Kovac in the Stade Louis II dugout in January. "We weren't rewarded for our efforts against Lorient and Frederic De Boever, the goalkeeping coach I've worked with for the last three years, told me he had never seen a game with so little data to exploit. Football can be like that, you can dominate and lose, that's why it's so popular. But it's true that we dropped two points.

'Play to score'

"We'll play to score goals, as always. Bordeaux have appointed a new coach, who has a reputation for organising his teams well. But we focus on ourselves first. Our story is like a book and every day is a new page. There is still a lot to be written to build a team capable of changing systems during the match, ready to respond to what the opponent has to offer."

Monaco have a longer injury list than Bordeaux, with Benoît Badiashile and Myron Boadu (both hamstring), Cesc Fabregas (ill) and Krépin Diatta (cruciate ligament) all missing. Aurélien Tchouaméni, Youssouf Fofana and Djibril Sidibé are each on one booking away from a suspension, but Tchouaméni in particular remains likely to feature against his former club.

Probable teams

Bordeaux: Poussin; Pembélé, Marcelo, Gregersen, Mangas; Guilavogui, Onana; Dilrosun, Adli, Oudin; Hwang

Monaco: Nübel; Aguilar, Disasi, Maripan, Henrique; Tchouaméni; Martins, Volland, Lucas, Diop; Ben Yedder