AS Monaco - FC Nantes

- Kick-off: 15:05 GMT

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Monaco have made a positive start to the season and had won each of their previous three games - against OGC Nice, Olympique Lyonnais and Stade de Reims - before the most recent international break, pulling up to fifth on 14 points in the process.

While Wissam Ben Yedder missed out on the most recent France squad for their UEFA Nations League meetings with Austria and Denmark, Badiashile and Fofana were called up for the first time, and given their debuts in the 2-0 win over the Austrians.

Band back together

Fofana shone next to his former Monaco teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni - who left in a €100 million move to Real Madrid this summer - winning 12 of his 14 duels, while Badiashile looked like he had been playing at that level for years, deputising at left centre-back for the injured Presnel Kimbembe.

Watch: Highlights of Monaco's 3-0 win at Reims

Badiashile has been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Atletico Madrid in recent weeks and months, but the big defender isn't convinced he would have got into Didier Deschamps' squad if he hadn't hung around at the Stade Louis II.

"Being humble and respectful doesn't mean not being ambitious," he said of his decision to stay this summer. "I know how to be patient. I'm in a big club, I play, and I don't want to go any faster. If you have to do things to go to the World Cup they'll be done. There's no need to rush. We're talking about personality in a locker room, if I'd left earlier, could I have worked as well in recent months?"

Clement solution

Monaco coach Philippe Clement has moved to a 4-4-2 system of late, solving his conundrum of who to start between Ben Yedder and Breel Embolo by fielding both at the same time. T has worked, the former getting a goal and the latter an assist in the 3-0 win over Stade de Reims last time out.

Fellow forward Kevin Volland is out with damaged ankle ligaments, while centre-back Guilllermo Maripan has an abdominal strain, meaning Badiashile is unlikely to get any rest this weekend.

Nantes begin the day 10 places and seven points behind Monaco in 15th, although there were shoots of promise in their goalless draw with high-flying RC Lens last time out.

Watch: Highlights of Nantes' 0-0 draw with Lens

Les Canaris also beat Monaco on the way to lifting the Coupe de France last season, and haven't lost to the principality side in three meetings stretching back to January 2021 when Volland and Maripan of all players scored in a 2-1 win at the Stade de la Beaujoire.

Antoine Kombouaré has full-backs Fabio and Charles Traoré missing through suspension and a knee injury respectively on Sunday, but he was able to sign right-back Fabien Centonze from FC Metz at the end of the recent transfer window.

Kombouaré: 'a player I wanted'

"It's a great satisfaction, he's a player I wanted," said the coach. "When he was at Metz we were able to speak to him and I saw his willingness to join us. He's a physically strong boy able to run and run."

Unfortunately for Kombouaré, full match fitness still eludes Centonze, and with Fabio missing, Dennis Appiah is likely to get the nod on the right flank. Goalkeeper Alban Lafont was called up to the France squad for the first time in the recent international break, but wasn't used and should be suitably well rested.

Possible teams

Monaco: Nubel; Vanderson, Disasi, Badiashile, Henrique; Akliouche, Fofana, Camara, Golovin; Embolo, Ben Yedder

Nantes: Lafont; Castelletto, Giroto, Pallois; Appiah, Moutoussamy, Chirivella, Merlin; Blas, Mohamed, Simon