An irresistible AS Monaco roll against Lens!
They are irresistible! At the end of a new successful collective performance from start to finish, our Rouge et Blanc won calmly in Lens (3-0). Thanks to this third win in four games, they will enter pass the September international break in first place, before heading to Lorient in two weeks. Here’s our recap. ✍️
The context 📅
Unbeaten in their first three matches played (two wins, one draw) and leaders before starting this fourth round of play, the players of AS Monaco approached this meeting against Lens with confidence, but a wariness because Le Sang et Or had caused the teams problems last season, forcing the Rouge et Blanc into two defeats.
The eleven 👥
For this first big match of the season, Adi Hütter does not make any major changes compared to the match in Nantes and kept with his 3-4-2-1. The only change was the appearance of Guillermo Maripán in central defense in place of Denis Zakaria, who had been ill this week. New recruit Folarin Balogun, who came to the Principality on Monday, started the match on the bench.
👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @RCLens
‣ #ASMRCL pic.twitter.com/ljbgOaYtvs
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 2, 2023
The match 🎞
In a Stade Louis-II as full as it had been against Strasbourg two weeks earlier, the Rouge et Blanc wanted to take the lead from the outset and keep the ball. The first dangerous chance came in the 8th minute with a low shot from Youssouf Fofana, stopped by Brice Samba, and it was the same thing a minute later on a shot on the turn from Takumi Minamino (9′).
𝗗𝗮𝗴𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗲𝗴𝘂 ❤️🤍
3⃣-0️⃣ #ASMRCL pic.twitter.com/oYRu1kZJtZ
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 2, 2023
Wilfried’s impressive header
The MVP of August was once again exciting and he showed this with a powerful attempt from the edge of the area. This was diverted with difficulty for a corner by the newly minted French international goalkeeper (24′). This corner kick would prove decisive, though as Wilfried Singo headed in a cross from Caio Henrique (24′). It was Caio’s third assist of the season and the first goal in his new colors for the Ivorian defender, who joined this summer.
Un premier but en Rouge & Blanc, ça se fête !
1⃣-0️⃣ #ASMRCL pic.twitter.com/tkxrfoxxHE
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 2, 2023
A first of the season for Golo
Lens tried to react but came up short against Philipp Köhn, author of a beautiful save, on a free kick from 20 meters by Angelo Fulgini (34′). But Lens would be punished on the counter only a few minutes later. After a recovery by Vanderson, the Brazilian found Mohamed Camara who then gave it to Minamino. Not challenged, the Japanese attacker then advanced before playing a fine pass to Aleksandr Golovin, who finished with his right foot at the near post. It was the Tsar’s first goal this season!
𝗚𝗼𝗹𝗼' 🪄
Pour revoir son but 👉 https://t.co/7LpLmSIR1U
2⃣-0️⃣ #ASMRCL pic.twitter.com/hRR7NQX9H2
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 2, 2023
A third goal which evokes the first
The start of the second period was more balanced but the Sang et Or did not worry our Rouge et Blanc, sure of their strength. Better yet, on another fine pass from Caio “Caviar” Henrique on a corner, Guillermo Maripán placed an unstoppable header into the corner of Brice Samba’s goal. 3-0, and the result seemed certain before the hour mark.
The coach then took the opportunity to make a change at the start of the last quarter of an hour and we saw in particular the entry of Folarin Balogun, who made an appearance for the first time, cheered on by the Monegasque supporters.
Changements pour l'AS Monaco :
🟢 @Deniszakaria8 & @balogun
🔴 Mo' & @WissBenYedder74' | 3⃣-0️⃣ #ASMRCL pic.twitter.com/UHARTuCiKY
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 2, 2023
A guaranteed place atop the table over the break
With various changes from both sides and the victory now all but sealed, Adi Hütter’s men logically drop in intensity. Their opponents took advantage of this to show themselves more without however being dangerous, except on the counter. It was therefore with a clear and flawless result, 3-0 that the Rouge et Blanc won at the Stade Louis-II, this Saturday.
This latest win, their third in four games, therefore made it possible to keep top spot over the break with 10 points on the clock. Now, after a two-week break, AS Monaco will travel to Lorient on Sunday September 17 (1 p.m.). Well done guys! 👏
𝗤𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗿𝗲́𝗲 𝗮̀ 𝗟𝗼𝘂𝗶𝘀-𝗜𝗜 🔥🔚
Dominateurs tout au long de la rencontre, nos Monégasques s'imposent avec la manière face au @RCLens !!!
On en redemande déjà 🤩
3⃣-0️⃣ #ASMRCL pic.twitter.com/YSHE8Wqt2x
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 2, 2023
Key moments 🎥
8′: Fofana’s low strike is stopped by Samba
9′: Minamino shoots on the turn from the edge of the area, but it is captured by the Lensois goalkeeper
24′: A powerful shot by Taki is diverted for a corner by Samba
24′: Wilfried Singo’s header opens the scoring (1-0)
34′: Köhn does well to parry a free kick from Fulgini from 20 meters
36′: Golovin doubles the lead on a fine pass by Minamino (2-0)
58′: A strike by Fofana, slightly deflected, flirts with the post
59′: The third Monegasque goal comes from Memo on a header at a corner (3-0)
The stat 📊
With two fine passes from corners for Wilfried Singo and Guillermo Maripán, Caio Henrique delivered his third and fourth assist of the season, and thus moved himself into first place in this ranking. Better still, since his arrival, he now has 27 in the league, becoming AS Monaco’s top in the 21st century, level with Aleksandr Golovin.
📋 Match details:
Saturday, September 2 – Stade Louis-II
Ligue 1 – Matchday 4: AS Monaco 3-0 RC Lens
Halftime: 2-0
Goals: Singo (24′), Golovin (36′), Maripán (59′) for AS Monaco
Bookings: Magassa (33′), Camara (47′), Vanderson (52′), Balogun (79′) for AS Monaco; Spierings (23′), Medina (64′) for RC Lens
AS Monaco: Köhn – Singo, Maripán, Magassa – Vanderson (Diatta, 85′), Fofana (Matazo, 89′), Camara (Zakaria, 74′), C.Henrique – Minamino (Akliouche, 85′), Golovin – Ben Yedder © (Balogun, 74′)
Substitutes: Majecki, Jakobs, Matsima, Akliouche, Diatta, Matazo, Zakaria, Balogun, Boadu
Manager: Adi Hütter
RC Lens: Samba – Gradit, Danso, Medina – Sotoca, Abdul Samed, Spierings (Diouf, 57′), Haïdara (Machado, 46′) – Thomasson (Guilavogui, 72′), Fulgini (Sishuba, 72′) – Wahi (Saïd, 71′)
Substitutes: Leca, Machado, Khusanov, Diouf, Pereira Da Costa, Cortés, Guilavogui, Saïd, Sishuba
Manager: Franck Haise
