A big night for Monaco sees them into the Round of 16!
“Two match points”. This is how Niko Kovac described the last two matches of the group stage of the Europa League, against Real Sociedad and Sturm Graz. AS Monaco took full advantage of its first opportunity this Thursday evening at the Stade Louis-II, dominating the Basque club (2-1) in what was a lively and energetic game.
With HSH Prince Albert II watching the match from the royal box in the company of Ekaterina Sartori Rybolovleva, Juan Sartori and Oleg Petrov, the Rouge et Blanc confirmed first place and a place in the round of 16 .
Kevin Volland makes good on early dominance
For this match, the Monegasque manager had to do without Aurélien Tchouameni but welcomed the returns of Benoît Badiashile and Aleksandr Golovin, who had been suspended Friday against Lille (2-2). The two players both started in his 4-4-2, with Djibril Sidibé deployed on the right side of the defense, Jean Lucas in midfield and the duo of “Yedderland” in front.
The Rouge et Blanc attacked this game from the off, with two consecutive strikes from Wissam Ben Yedder and Aleksandr Golovin on the counter (6′) followed by off-target attempts from Kevin Volland (11′) and Youssouf Fofana (21′). The visitors, currently second in La Liga, replied through the very energetic Adnan Januzaj (10′, 26′, 27′), but it was ultimately Kevin Volland, who would finish from close range on a cross by Aleksandr Golovin to open the scoring (1-0, 28′).
A first Monaco goal for Youssouf Fofana
The Monegasque advantage unfortunately did not last long since Alexander Isak, on a long ball, equalized quickly (1-1, 35′). A tough pill to swallow? Not for the Monegasques, who had no time to waste before Youssouf Fofana put his team back in front, thanks to a header following a knock on by Benoît Badiashile on a free kick from Sofiane Diop (37′). It was a first goal in La Diagonale for the young midfielder, who decidedly had chosen the right day to do it!
The Round of 16 set for March 10 and 17
The Spaniards, who would need to go back ahead if first place was to remain an option, return from the locker room playing even more aggressively, but neither Alexander Isak (49′, 60′), nor Mikel Oyarzabal (51′), manage to find their way to goal. Defending well, the Principality’s players held the score without suffering too much and realized, at the end of the match, a victory that clinched first place in Group B and with it, a place in the Round of 16, on March 10 and 17. (draw on February 25).
The Monegasques will now turn their focus to Ligue 1 and a visit from Strasbourg, a team with which it is level on points in the standings, this Sunday at the Stade Louis-II (3 p.m.). In the Europa League, the Rouge et Blanc will next visit Austria to face Sturm Graz on Thursday 9 December (6:45 p.m.), with a clear head and qualification already in hand.
Match details
Ligue Europa – Matchday 5 (Group B)
AS Monaco 2-1 Real Sociedad
Halftime: 2-1
Goals: Volland (28′), Fofana (37′); Isak (35′)
Bookings: Maripán (15′), Golovin (33′), Nübel (95′); Zaldua (43′), Januzaj (58′), Zubimendi (75′)
Dismissals: Fofana (88′)
AS Monaco : Nübel – Sidibé, Maripán, Badiashile (Disasi 68′), C.Henrique – Diop (Gelson Martins 76′), Fofana, Jean Lucas, Golovin (Matazo 91′) – Volland (Matsima 91′), Ben Yedder © (Boadu 76′)
Substitutes: Majecki, Mannone, Aguilar, Disasi, Jakobs, Matsima, Pavlović, Akliouche, Gelson Martins, Matazo, Boadu, Isidor
Manager: Niko Kovac
Real Sociedad: Remiro – Zaldua (Gorosabel 46′), Elustondo, Le Normand, Munoz – Merino (Turrientes 66′), Zubimendi – Januzaj (Portu 76′), Silva (Barrenetxea (46′), Oyarzabal – Isak (Sorloth 74′)
Substitutes: Ryan, Marrero, Zubeldia, Rico, Gorosabel, Pacheco, Guevara, Turrientes, Navarro, Portu, Barrenetxea, Sorloth
Manager: Imanol Alguacil
