Ligue 1 Uber Eats 23 September 2023, 00:53

AS Monaco fall to Nice in added time

Despite winning two penalties in a match where the two teams went blow for blow, the Rouge et Blanc conceded a narrow defeat at the very end of the match in the Derby against Nice (0-1).

What a pity. In a very tight match where they had two penalties to go ahead, the AS Monaco players ended up falling to Nice in the final moments of the match, 0-1. It was a (very) frustrating setback, one which we will have to quickly forget before hosting Olympique de Marseille next weekend.

The context 📅

Still undefeated after five rounds of play in Ligue 1, our Rouge et Blanc welcomed one of the three other top flight teams which has not yet tasted defeat. There was a clear objective: to turn the page on last season and this a frustrating defeat conceded here at the Stade Louis-II. It would be a tough mission against the best defense in the league (4 goals conceded), as the coach had said in a pre-match press conference.

We are focused and looking forward to playing this match against Nice, which will be my first Derby. It’s bound to be special. This match will pit two undefeated teams at the top of the rankings against each other, who will fight for three points. Since the start of the season, we have had good results at home with two wins against Strasbourg and Lens in style.

Adi Hütter in the pre-match press conferenceAS Monaco manager

The eleven 👥

In the hopes of keeping up the team’s good form, Adi Hütter decided to place confidence in his players, again aligned in a 3-4-2-1. There were several notable changes, including the return of midfielder Mohamed Camara from suspension, while Denis Zakaria was back in central defence, while Folarin Balogun, who had scored in Lorient, made his first start.

👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @OGCNice

‣ #ASMOGCN pic.twitter.com/GO55m2IM56

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 22, 2023

The scenario 🎞

The match, which was kicked off by the 2000 French champion, José Da Costa, started on a high note and Sofiane Diop stood out from the start against his former team, but Philipp Köhn easily caught his attempt (3′). The Monegasque response came on a counter-attack where Aleksandr Golovin won a penalty which Folarin Baloguntook, before unfortunately being denied by Marcin Bulka (12′).

Philipp Köhn is sharp

The ball was flying from one end of the pitch to the other, and Philipp Köhn was again called upon to stop an on-target header from Gaëtan Laborde, which he seizes without hesitation (22′). After that, it was Youssouf Fofana who tried his luck from afar… but he just missed (23′)! Things were going at 100 miles an hour, and Sofiane Diop then was on target with a header that Philipp Köhn saved (30′). Diop would then have more success on a curling shot (32′), after a great tackle by Denis Zakaria on Terem Moffi.

🔴⚪️⚔️🔵🟡

30' | 0️⃣-0️⃣ #ASMOGCN pic.twitter.com/syYfvjNzWH

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 22, 2023

The Monegasque goalkeeper was once again vigilant on a strike from Kephren Thuram (36′). He was then imperious on a very dangerous shot from the Nigerian attacker (35′). It was already the 5th save made by the Swiss, a first since the trip to Clermont (5). The rhythm logically dropped until the break and a shot from Vanderson deflected just past the post (45 + 3′). But the last chance would fall to Folarin Balogun, whose header hits Bulka’s post (45+4′).

Balogun is unlucky from the penalty spot

After the break, the match was quickly brought back into life, as Takumi Minamino, named the August player of the month in Ligue 1, again drew a penalty. It was again Folarin Balogun who would take it, but Marcin Bulka denied him again (56′). The Monegasque Ultras could not yet celebrate, and even could have been worried on a header by Jean-Clair Todibo (58′) and a curling strike from Terem Moffi (71′).

𝑃𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑛𝑜𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑒𝑢𝑟𝑠 🔴⚪️

‣ #ASMOGCN pic.twitter.com/vzjR5a3oBU

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 22, 2023

Les Aiglons pushed and were even close to getting on the scoreboard on a header from Ndayishimiye which came off the Monegasque crossbar (77′)! Changes then take place on both sides, before Takumi Minamino once again was denied by the Pole Bulka (82′). The tension was palpable in the final moments and Philipp Köhn pulled off a fine save on a curling shot from young Aliou Baldé (88′). What a stop!

A blow in added time

Unfortunately the Monegasque goalkeeper could do nothing about a counter-attack finished with a low strike from substitute Jeremie Boga (0-1, 91′). Added time would change nothing and AS Monaco lost. We will have to quickly lift our heads next Saturday against Olympique de Marseille, right here at the Stade Louis-II (9 p.m.).

📋 Match details:

Friday, September 22 – Stade Louis-II

Ligue 1 – Matchday: AS Monaco 0-1 OGC Nice

Halftime: 0-0

Goals: Boga (91′) for Nice

Bookings: Golovin (72′) for AS Monaco; Ndayishimiye (56′) for Nice

AS Monaco: Köhn – Singo, Zakaria, Magassa (Maripán, 95′) – Vanderson, Fofana ©, Camara (Matazo, 81′), C.Henrique (Jakobs, 82′) – Minamino (Boadu, 95′), Golovin, Balogun (Ben Yedder, 67′)

Substitutes: Majecki, Jakobs, Maripán, Matsima, Akliouche, Diatta, Matazo, Ben Yedder, Boadu

Manager: Adi Hütter

OGC Nice: Bulka – Lotomba, Todibo, Dante ©, Bard – Sanson (Rosario, 64′), Ndayishimiye, Thuram – Laborde (Baldé, 78′), Moffi (Guessand, 78′), Diop (Boga, 64′)

Substitutes: Boulhendi, Atal, Perraud, Beka Beka, Rosario, Baldé, Boga, Bouanani, Guessand

Manager: Francesco Farioli