Stats 13 November 2024, 18:10

Corners, Kehrer, 29%… AS Monaco’s good figures on set pieces

Thanks in particular to a goal from Eliesse Ben Seghir on a penalty in Strasbourg, AS Monaco turned the tide to win 3-1 and confirm its status as a formidable team on set pieces this season. Explanations with Opta.

They have won their last two games thanks to set pieces. Against Bologna, the Rouge et Blanc in fact scored the only goal from a corner in the last minutes thanks to Thilo Kehrer (0-1), before Eliesse Ben Seghir leveled the score from a penalty spot, five days later in Strasbourg, a goal that allowed them to get back on track before winning 1-3, thus demonstrating their good skills on set pieces.

Le penalty plein de sang-froid d'Eliesse Ben Seghir pour égaliser face à Strasbourg 🥶

1️⃣-3️⃣ #RCSAASM pic.twitter.com/G5VsY0rGc2

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 11, 2024

29% of goals from set pieces 📊

Because since the start of the season, it has been one of the strong points of the Principality club. With already eight goals scored in this way in all competitions (6 corners, 2 penalties), only Brest have done better among French clubs (10), as reported by Opta. Adi Hütter’s men have thus scored 29% of their goals from set pieces (8/28), rewarding the work done on a daily basis.

The truth is that we are very efficient in these phases, and again all the credit goes to my assistants, the analysts and the players. Nearly 30% of the goals are scored in this phase of play, as we spend the time it takes to be able to perform in this area.

Adi HütterOn the team's strong play at set pieces

Top team on corners in Ligue 1 🔝

“We work as a four-person team on these phases of play, with my three assistants and a video analyst. This explains why we are doing a fantastic job in this sector. Nearly 30% of goals are now scored in this phase of the game, so we spend the time needed to be able to perform well in this area,” explained the coach at a press conference before the match against Racing.

And this fantastic work is even more evident on corners since AS Monaco has scored 22% of its goals (4/18) in Ligue 1 in this way. It’s quite simple, no team does better. And if we look at the European Top 5 in all competitions, only Fiorentina is ahead (7 goals against 6 for the Rouge et Blanc).

Thilo Kehrer, the danger man ⚠️

Whether it is an inswinger or out, the danger is therefore very often present, due firstly to the takers. Caio Henrique, Lamine Camara, Maghnes Akliouche and Eliesse Ben Seghir have in fact already been decisive passers, while the receivers know perfectly how to stand out.

We are not bad at these set pieces, we work them well. We must continue like this and convert these opportunities like we did today. We have great takers, whether it is Lamine, Golo', Caio or even Maghnes. The competition pulls them up, it is really positive.

Denis ZakariaOn the quality of the takers

La rage de Thilo 😤😤😤

0⃣-1⃣ #BFCASM pic.twitter.com/WatlS6K9CQ

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) November 5, 2024

“It’s not always the same strategy obviously, since we adapt to each opponent’s way of defending,” explained Adi Hütter in a press conference. Thus, Mohammed Salisu (1 time), Denis Zakaria (2 times) and Thilo Kehrer (3 times) have scored. A performance all the more remarkable for the German defender since only Robert Lewandowski has scored more goals from set pieces excluding penalties (4), notes the statistics aggregator.

A success as visible as in 2023-2024 🔙

But this success is not new and was already present last season. No less than 12 goals were scored in this way (5 from corners, 4 from penalties, 1 from direct free kicks, 1 from indirect free kicks and 1 from a throw-in). This meticulous work was rewarded as AS Monaco finished second in France, and are today second in the league and third in the Champions League. Bravo les gars !