Surprised by an enterprising LOSC, AS Monaco fall in the North

A minor setback: leaders before this clash against Lille but quickly behind in the Nord, AS Monaco was unable to catch up this time at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy, conceding a frustrating but quite logical defeat (2-0). ✍️

The context 📅

This big match of the 10th matchday was a new big test for the Rouge et Blanc, winners of their last three, including last weekend against Metz (2-1). Especially since LOSC, fourth ahead of the match, had come off of two successive wins here in Villeneuve-d’Ascq: the first against Brest in the league (1-0) and the second in the Europa Conference League against Slovan Bratislava (2-1).

The eleven 👥

To meet the northern challenge, coach Adi Hütter did not deviate from his principles by fielding a very offensive eleven. The 4-4-2 tested against Metz was thus used again with only one notable change, namely the return of Denis Zakaria in midfield, behind a very ambitious front four of Minamino – Ben Yedder – Balogun – Golovin, while Wilfried Singo and Chrislain Matsima started in central defence.

The scenario 🎞

It was with a packed away end, filled with 1000 Monegasque supporters, that the match got off to a (very) strong start. The first effort came from Krépin Diatta, with a beautiful curling shot from the left which just missed finding the top corner of Lucas Chevalier’s goal (3′). The northern response came from Yusuf Yazici, starting in attack, whose direct free kick from 25 meters was easily captured by Philipp Köhn (8′).

Cavaleiro’s clever play

The ball moved from one side to the other, but there were more chances at set pieces, like an on-target header from Wilfried Singo (16′). Finding space was rare, but on cutback, the former Angers player Nabil Bentaleb tried a volley from afar, but Köhn was still vigilant on his line (23′)! The pace dropped somewhat after half an hour of play, before former Monegasque Ivan Cavaleiro woke up the home crowd by turning home a precise cross from Edon Zhegrova (1-0, 32′).

Lille ouvre le score.

32' | 1⃣-0⃣ #LOSCASM

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 29, 2023

Lille double the lead

Lille opened the scoring and continued to push with two successive powerful strikes from Zhegrova, fortunately pushed back for corners (34′, 36′). Man of the match against Metz, Aleksandr Golovin tried to provide a response, but his free kick (40′) and then his volley following a pass from his captain (41′) did not worry Chevalier. Unfortunately LOSC once again found the opening on the counter with a shot across goal from Bafodé Diakité (2-0, 42′).

Changes at the break

Half-time came with this two goal deficit, and Adi Hütter decided to throw on Maghnes Akliouche and Myron Boadu on returning from the locker room. Already having picked up eleven points after conceding the opener this season, the Rouge et Blanc were off again, and Aleksandr Golovin saw his magnificent curling shot captured by Chevalier (48′)! AS Monaco pushed to come back, and Wissam Ben Yedder saw his effort go over the bar (57′), before seeing his volleyed shot be slightly off-target (59′).

Matsima is close to pulling a goal back

The pressure grew stronger and stronger, and Maghnes Akliouche narrowly came up against Lucas Chevalier who pushed the ball back, only as far as Denis Zakaria, who also couldn’t find the target (64′). The Monegasques finally thought they had their first goal on a powerful header from Chrislain Matsima, but Myron Boadu’s deflection was flagged offside (69′). What a shame… As was a chance that went begging following a sublime sequence of control – strike from the U-21 international (74′).

Jusqu'au bout, 𝗗𝗔𝗚𝗛𝗘 😤

75' | 2⃣-0⃣ #LOSCASM pic.twitter.com/jI7yMJB3eo

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 29, 2023

Bounce back at home against Brest

The response came from a free kick from LOSC that Philipp Köhn handled without worry (77′). Again but from the other direction this time, with Ismail Jakobs who was denied by a strong Chevalier again (83′). Once again on a set piece, Golo’ delivered the ball to the left foot of Maghnes Akliouche who just missed with his effort (88′). It was infuriating as the Rouge et Blanc could not find the solution.

We will have to bounce back very quickly at the Stade Louis-II against Brest next Sunday (5:05 p.m.) to erase this misstep.

Key moments 🎥

3′: A curled left strike from Diatta is just over the bar
8′: A direct free kick from Yazici is captured by Köhn
16′: Singo has a header on a free kick from Golovin
23′: Bentaleb’s volley is controlled by Köhn
32′: Zhegrova crosses for Cavaleiro who finishes from close range (1-0)
34′: A powerful strike from Zhegrova is deflected by Köhn
36′: Zhegrova’s shot deflected behind by Matsima for a corner
40′: Golovin’s free kick flashes wide
41′: A volley from Golovin on a pass from Ben Yedder doesn’t find the net
42′: Diakité takes his attempt perfectly (2-0)
48′: A magnificent shot from Golovin is captured by Chevalier
57′: Golovin finds Ben Yedder who is flagged offside
59′: A volley from Ben Yedder is just off target
64′: Akliouche comes up short against Chevalier before Zakaria can’t get his effort on target
69′: A header from Matsima at a corner, but Boadu is offside
74′: A control and strike from Akliouche doesn’t find the net
77′: Gomes’ free kick blocked by Köhn
83′: A direct free kick from Jakobs is stopped by Chevalier
88′: Akliouche’s half-volley misses finding the corner

📋 Match details:

Sunday, October 29 – Stade Pierre-Mauroy

Ligue 1 – Matchday 10: Lille 2-0 AS Monaco

Halftime: 2-0

Goals: Cavaleiro (32′), Diakité (42′) for Lille

Bookings: Yazici (67′) for Lille; Fofana (49′), Zakaria (50′) for AS Monaco

Lille: Chevalier – Diakité (Tiago Santos, 86′), Yoro, Alexsandro, Ismaily – André ©, Bentaleb, Gomes (Gudmundsson, 86′) – Zhegrova (Ounas, 72′), Yazici (David, 72′), Cavaleiro (Cabella, 86′)

Substitutes: Mannone, Gudmundsson, Umtiti, Bouaddi, Cabella, Ounas, Tiago Santos, David, Miramón,

Manager: Paulo Fonseca

AS Monaco: Köhn – Diatta, Singo, Matsima (Ben Seghir, 69′), Jakobs – Minamino (Akliouche, 46′), Fofana, Zakaria, Golovin – Ben Yedder ©, Balogun (Boadu, 46′)

Substitutes: Majecki, Cartillier, Akliouche, Ben Seghir, Camara, Diop, Matazo, Boadu, Efekele

Manager: Adi Hütter