AS Monaco stun Nantes to earn a draw

A crazy game! We hoped for no less between a Nantes team looking to change their fortunes, and an AS Monaco side who have been ultra-clinical since the start of the season. And at the end of a match played at 100 miles per hour from start to finish, after having been behind from the 5th minute, our Rouge et Blanc ended up snatching a good draw in Nantes (3-3).

The context 📅

With two wins in two games since the resumption of Ligue 1, and good progress between an opening win in Clermont (2-4) and a victory at home at the Stade Louis-II against Strasbourg (3-0), our Rouge et Blanc were aiming for the three points. But they had to be wary of Nantes performing well in a generally hostile Beaujoire, after the two defeats suffered by Les Canaris at the start of this 2023-2024 season.

The eleven👥

Looking for 3 wins from 3, coach Adi Hütter did not change anything from the team he lined up against the Alsatians and thus played again in a 3-4-2-1 with Denis Zakaria and Wilfried Singo in defense. In great form with two goals and two assists to date, Takumi Minamino was again played alongside Aleksandr Golovin.

👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @FCNantes

‣ #FCNASM pic.twitter.com/00C5ov7mwu

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 25, 2023

The match 🎞

In a very intense start to the match in its duels, echoing the atmosphere of La Beaujoire, Nantes obtained a penalty in the 4th minute, which Mostafa Mohamed converted (1-0, 5′). The answer was immediate and it came from Caio Henrique on a direct free kick which grazed the post (8′). The Brazilian also failed to get his effort on target a few minutes later (13′).

5' Le @FCNantes ouvre le score sur penalty.

1⃣-0️⃣ #FCNASM

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 25, 2023

A fine pass from Caio, a fine finish from Taki’

A penalty then seemed obvious, when the Tsar was fouled in the opposing area, but the referee did not budge (14′). On the contrary, Les Canaris soon eanred a corner, on which Jean-Charles Castelletto rose highest to double the lead (2-0, 15′). The Monegasques tried to regain control of the game, but stumbled against the “yellow wall.” Until a flash of brilliance by Caio Henrique, who delivered the ball onto the head of Takumi Minamino (2-1, 27′).

A domination that changes sides

The Japanese is the team’s form player and in scoring his third goal it was similar to his second against Strasbourg. The Rouge et Blanc pushed to come back, but Wissam Ben Yedder stumbled against Rémy Descamps from close range (31′). Then Wilfried Singo tried his luck from afar, without success (39′). Soungoutou Magassa was finally close to taking advantage of a mistake in the Nantes defense (45′) but to no avail.

𝗠𝗶-𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀 𝗮̀ 𝗹𝗮 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲 ⏸️

Surpris en début de match, nos Monégasques sont menés d'un but à la pause mais poussent pour revenir dans la partie.

Rendez-vous dans 15 minutes 👊

2⃣-1⃣ #FCNASM pic.twitter.com/BGcLAjGKVP

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 25, 2023

Captain’ Wiss to the rescue

Unfortunately the second half started like the first, very badly, on an early goal from Les Canaris who added to their tally thanks to Mohamed’s double (3-1, 48′). Very involvved, Taki’ tried again to charge up the Monegasque attack, but it was Kader Bamba who narrowly missed what would have been a knockout blow (58′). It was a narrow miss for Pierre Aristouy’s men, and one they could regret since Wissam Ben Yedder, first to a deflected strike by Fofana, scored from close range (3-2)!

A frustrating effort off the post…

It was the fourth goal of the season for the top scorer in Ligue 1, who scored his 102nd goal with AS Monaco, just in front of the away fans, who were some 500. Decidedly elusive, Takumi Minamino was on the verge of equalizing on a shot deflected for a corner by Descamps (71′). Then on a high recovery, his chipped shot hit the post (73′)! The Monegasque then captain saw his effort deflected behind for a corner (82′).

Jusqu'au bout, 𝗗𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗘 ✊

3⃣-2⃣ #FCNASM pic.twitter.com/KFjVOVE95r

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 25, 2023

A crazy end to the match!

The tension is palpable, and Youssouf Fofana even hits the bar with his head, but Myron Boadu, barely having entered the game, followed it up perfectly and pushed the ball into an empty goal (3-3, 85th). It was his tenth goal in La Diagonale… and his tenth on the road! The end of the match was like the rest of the match, completely crazy, exemplified by a strike from 25 meters from Denis Zakaria, which was again blocked (94′).

The score would remain there, and AS Monaco saved a point from the draw after being behind from the fifth minute of play. The next match (and first big test) comes against Lens next Saturday at the Stade Louis-II (9 p.m.).

Key moments

4′: Penalty whistled for Nantes for a slight foul on Simon
5′: Mohamed opens the scoring from the penalty spot (1-0)
8′: Direct free kick from Caio Henrique comes close to the goals
15′: Castelletto doubles the lead with a header from a Simon corner (2-0)
27′: A perfect cross from Caio Henrique is headed in by Minamino (2-1)
31′: Ben Yedder stumbles against Rémy Descamps in the box
48′: Merlin crosses towards the far post where Mohamed heads home (3-1)
58′: Bamba shoots from afar but misses the target
59′: On the lookout after Fofana’s deflected shot, Ben Yedder finds the net (3-2)
67′: Ben Yedder lays the ball off for Golovin who is just past the post
71′: Minamino dribbles then is denied by Descamps
73′: Minamino hits the post on a shot from the left
82′: Ben Yedder tries his luck with a volley after Fofana’s delivery
85′: Fofana hits the bar in the area but Boadu follows well (3-3)
94′: A powerful shot from Zakaria is blocked by Descamps

📋 Match details:

Friday, August 25 – Stade de la Beaujoire

Ligue 1 – Matchday 3: FC Nantes 3-3 AS Monaco

Halftime: 2-1

Goals: Mohamed (5′, 48′) and Castelletto (15′) for Nantes; Minamino (27′), Ben Yedder (59′) and Boadu (85′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Castelletto (7′) and Moutoussamy (65′) for Nantes; Singo (9′) and Golovin (54′) for AS Monaco

FC Nantes: Descamps – Pierre-Gabriel, Catelletto, Pallois – Coco, Chirivella ©, Douglas Augusto (Sissoko, 69′), Merlin (Hadjam, 80′) – Bamba (Moutoussamy, 60′), Mohamed (Mollet, 81′), Simon (Ganago, 69′)

Substitutes: Petric, Mpeuiyou, Hadjam, Moutoussamy, Sissoko, Appuah, Ganago, Mollet, Marquinhos, 

Manager: Pierre Aristouy

AS Monaco: Köhn – Singo, Zakaria, Magassa (Boadu, 85′) – Vanderson (Diatta, 74′), Fofana, Camara, C.Henrique – Minamino, Golovin, Ben Yedder © 

Substitutes: Lienard, Majecki, Jakobs, Maripán, Matsima, Diatta, Matazo, Boadu, Efekele

Manager: Adi Hütter