In the match of the fourth round of the French championship, Strasbourg will host Monaco. Last season these teams competed for places in European competition and performed worse than they had planned. Therefore they are aiming from the very start of the new season to set a good pace for earning points. Partly this is working. Monaco has progressed not only to the group stage of the Europa Conference League, but has started Ligue 1 far better. They first beat Le Havre away (1-0), then overcame in a crucial clash Marseille (2-0), and then in an even more important match beat PSG away (2-1). Thus Monaco has a perfect start to the season. Although they have already played perhaps the toughest opponents. Such play by the Monégasques in itself becomes a good sign for a fight, if not for the championship, then for a place in the Champions League. On the other hand Strasbourg started the season poorly, losing heavily in the first round to Marseille (0-4). It seemed that the team, which is part of a single consortium with Chelsea and constantly undergoes major changes, had not assembled in its strongest form this time. However the next two rounds showed Strasbourg’s strength. They defeated the holder of the Cup and the Super Cup in France, Lens, 2-1, and in the previous match produced a vivid performance, scoring six goals against Troyes. Admittedly, they conceded twice. So Strasbourg’s lively, mischievous football remained. Matches between Strasbourg and Monaco have been bright lately. Last season Monaco won at home 3-2, and Strasbourg 5-4. And also in the French Cup the Alsatians won 3-1.