AS Monaco will be aware that Arsenal lie in wait in the Champions League.
When: 8.30 pm GMT+1, 13 March 2015
Where: Stade Louis II, Monaco
AS Monaco and SC Bastia meet in Ligue 1 on Friday night on the back of fine victories in the French top flight.
A majestic effort from Dimitar Berbatov helped Leonardo Jardim’s side to a 3-1 victory over Evian Thonon Gaillard last weekend, while Bastia secured a tight 2-1 victory over fierce Southern rivals OGC Nice.
Jardim has made little secret of the fact that his side have one eye on their Champions League Last 16 second-leg tie against Arsenal next week and thus may opt to rest some players for this Ligue 1 clash. The coach was forced to bring Berbatov on due to injury last weekend and the Bulgarian looks likely to start among the substitutes again on Friday.
Bastia, by contrast, have been forced into several changes. Important centre-back Sebastien Squillaci, inspirational playmaker Ryad Boudebouz and club captain Yannick Cahuzac are all injured which may mean that the likes of Mathieu Peybernes, Romaric and Junior Tallo might be given an opportunity to shine.
AS Monaco currently sit in fourth place in the log on 47 points, while Bastia are down in tenth on 36.
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