An in-control AS Monaco get a great win over Lorient!
It was a masterfully managed match! Dominant from start to finish, the Rouge et Blanc did not hesitate for a second against Lorient at the Stade Louis-II on Sunday. Ahead at the break with a two-goal lead, they consolidated their success in the second half, and finally won 3-1. They are thus temporarily level with Marseille in third place.✍️
The context 📅
After a draw with Nantes last weekend in a frustrating match (2-2), the Red and Whites had to start again at the Stade Louis-II when they received Lorient. A victory would allow them to return to two units of Lens, beaten by Paris Saint-Germain this Saturday, and this one week before the trip to Bollaert.
The eleven 👥
It was no longer the 4-2-3-1 usded in recent weeks, but rather a return to 4-4-2. In addition to the system, two changes would be noted in this starting lineup of Philippe Clement compared to the trip to Nantes. Back from suspension, Youssouf Fofana regained his starting place, as did Kevin Volland, who played next to Wissam Ben Yedder in attack.
Our #ASMFCL line-up 📋 pic.twitter.com/Vt9TsUVsmp
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 16, 2023
The scenario 🎞
In a Stade Louis-II well filled many fans, the Monegasques wanted to show their superiority from the outset. And on a delicious ball from Aleksandr Golovin, Krépin Diatta was found in the Lorient area and opened the scoring after controlling with his chest (14′), scoring his fourth goal of the season in the league.
14' DIATTAAAAA!!! 🔥
1⃣-0⃣ #ASMFCL pic.twitter.com/ZMG5Zbd8yJ
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 16, 2023
Wissam and Golo, the perfect connection
Superior in many areas at the start of the game, the Rouge et Blanc continued to push and did not hesitate to play with an intense level of pressing. It was precisely on one of these that the second goal came. Following a recovery by Youssouf Fofana 30 meters from the opposing goal, the midfielder found Wissam Ben Yedder who played in the Tsar at the left side of the area. Against Vito Mannone, he did not hesitate to double the lead, scoring for the seventh time this season (28′).
27' GOLO FOR 2!!! 👊
2⃣-0⃣ #ASMFCL pic.twitter.com/F43bFMeR9o
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 16, 2023
On a cloud, AS Monaco were even close to a third a few moments later. But Krépin Diatta and then Kevin Volland came up short against the Lorient goalkeeper and Montassar Talbi, who cleared the German’s effort off the line (35′). Ahead at the break by a score of 2-0, Philippe Clement’s men thus upheld their status of being one of the best teams in the first half, scoring their 32nd and 33rd goals on Sunday during the first 45 minutes of play.
More to come 👊#ASMFCL pic.twitter.com/TbHCJiqeVi
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 16, 2023
Yedderland: Back together and decisive
Not wishing to relive the same scenario of the match in Nantes, the men of the Principality club wanted to seal the result quickly. It was done ten minutes after the break, thanks to Kevin Volland.
Found back at the edge of the area by his captain, the German international (15 caps) curled a shot under the bar of a helpless Vito Mannone, who was making his return to the Stade Louis-II (55′). It was the third goal and second assist by Wissam Ben Yedder in this match — our captain now has six this season.
3⃣-0⃣ #ASMFCL pic.twitter.com/ouuF57ATJh
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 16, 2023
Back to within two points of second place
Up 3-0 after an hour of play, Philippe Clement made a triple change to bring on Eliot Matazo, Ismail Jakobs and Eliesse Ben Seghir. And as we headed for a victory with a three goal lead, the referee awarded a harsh penalty to Lorient for a foul by Guillermo Maripán on Ckene Doucoure (85′) before it was converted by Ibrahima Koné (86′) to produce the final score.
It mattered little, as AS Monaco had put in a successful performance for a 3-1 win. The Monegasques therefore consolidated their hold on fourth place and temporarily drew level with Olympique de Marseille. But above all, they are only two points off of Lens. That’s a good thing as the team’s next match is against Le Sang et Or next Saturday (9 p.m.). Bravo les gars! 💪
3 POINTS!!! 💪#ASMFCL pic.twitter.com/LjWgj2s2nP
— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 16, 2023
The highlights 🎥
14′: Diatta scores after receiving a cross from the flank from Golovin (1-0)
28′: The second Monegasque goal is scored by Golovin, well served by Ben Yedder (2-0)
35′: Diatta stumbles against Mannone before Volland’s shot cleared off the line by Talbi
55′: A third goal for AS Monaco is scored by Volland, who finds the top corner (3-0)
85′: AS Monaco concede a penalty after a foul on Doucouré
86′: Koné converts to make it 3-1
The stat 📊
AS Monaco have been very successful in the first hour of matches this season. They have scored a whopping 45 goals out of their 64 (33 in the first period and 12 between the 45th and 60th minute) in this period of play. This percentage, 70%, only grew on Sunday with three more goals during this period, from Krépin Diatta, Aleksandr Golovin and Kevin Volland.
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Match details
Sunday, April 16 – Stade Louis-II
Ligue 1 – Matchday 31: AS Monaco 3-1 FC Lorient
Halftime: 2-0
Goals: Diatta (14′), Golovin (28′), Volland (55′) for AS Monaco; Koné (86′) for Lorient
Avertissement: Silva (25′) for Lorient
AS Monaco: Nübel – Vanderson, Disasi, Maripán, C.Henrique – Diatta (Akliouche, 90′), Fofana, Camara (Matazo, 76′), Golovin (Jakobs, 76′) – Volland (Ben Seghir, 76′), Ben Yedder © (Boadu, 90′)
Substitutes: Didillon, Jakobs, Matsima, Akliouche, Ben Seghir, Diop, Matazo, Minamino, Boadu
Manager: Philippe Clement
FC Lorient: Mannone – Silva, Meïté, Talbi, Le Goff – Ponceau (Innocent, 63′), Abergel ©, Makengo (Koné, 46′) – Diarra (Aouchiche, 46′), Dieng (Doucouré, 75′), Cathline (Yongwa, 46′)
Substitutes: Mvogo, Yongwa, Wackers, Aouchiche, Innocent, Kroupi, Kari, Doucouré, Koné
Manager: Régis Le Bris
