Following a commanding 5-1 victory over Red Star Belgrade in late October, which extended their unbeaten streak to 11 matches—including a notable win against Barcelona—Hütter was receiving accolades for his squad's bold approach to the game.
The situation has drastically changed since then.
Monaco now finds itself significantly behind in the Ligue 1 title race and is trailing Benfica in their Champions League playoff, with the second leg approaching next week.
Additionally, Monaco has been eliminated from the French Cup, diminishing their chances of securing any silverware, and the pressure is intensifying as they prepare for Saturday’s home match against Nantes.
While unbeaten Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain have established a 16-point lead over fourth-place Monaco, the latter is also wary of the competition behind them. Lille is just two points back in fifth, and Lyon is four points behind in sixth.
After a promising start to the Ligue 1 season, characterized by a solid defense that allowed only four goals in the first eight matches, Monaco has recently struggled defensively.
Hütter’s team has suffered six losses in their last ten matches, including a defeat to last-placed Montpellier. They have managed just one clean sheet in their last 12 games, conceding 23 goals during this stretch—12 of which came in the last five matches.
Neither goalkeeper has instilled confidence, with Radoslaw Majecki struggling with errors after taking over from Philipp Köhn.
Overall, Hütter’s squad no longer resembles the formidable title contender it appeared to be at the season's outset.
Lyon still has European ambitions
Lyon is determined to enhance its prospects for European competition as it prepares for Sunday’s match against Montpellier.
Since taking over, Fonseca has committed to a more offensive approach, resulting in Lyon scoring six goals across his first two matches, including a commanding 4-0 victory over Reims last weekend, where four players contributed to the scoreline.
Corentin Tolisso, a former France international who celebrated World Cup success in 2018, has regained his form, finding the net in both of his appearances. Rayan Cherki, an attacking midfielder, was instrumental in all four goals against Reims.
“When you have Cherki at this level, it’s difficult for us to lose,” Tolisso remarked.
However, Cherki's past inconsistency means that sustaining this level of performance will be crucial for Lyon's aspirations of securing a European spot.
Fonseca also faces the challenge of revitalizing captain Alexandre Lacazette’s goal-scoring ability. After two impressive seasons with 46 goals in 64 matches, the former Arsenal striker has only managed six league goals this season.
He is likely to find opportunities against Montpellier, who have the league's worst defensive record, having conceded 48 goals.
Dembélé's scoring streak continues
Ousmane Dembélé is enjoying the most prolific phase of his career and aims to score in his 11th consecutive match during Saturday’s visit to Toulouse.
The French forward currently leads Ligue 1 with 16 goals, surpassing Marseille’s Mason Greenwood by three goals.
Marseille will face Saint-Etienne on Sunday, but the match will take place without visiting fans due to concerns over potential clashes between rival supporters.