Scoring 4 goals, AS Monaco make it a success in Clermont!

A torrent of goals… in sweltering heat! That’s how to sum up the first day of the season for AS Monaco’s players in Clermont, who, after a rather crazy scenario, won logically against the Auvergnat side (2-4).  🗓

The context 📅

After a pre-season  that saw a training camp at Saint George’s Park in England and eight friendlies, including matches against Arsenal and Bayern Munich, the Rouge et Blanc are back in Ligue 1. Their first big test was a trip to Auvergne to face CF63, who had a historic season last year, finishing in 8th place.

The starting eleven 👥

Coach Adi Hütter opted for stability for the start of the match, retaining the 3-4-2-1 line-up used against Bayern. Soungoutou Magassa started in defence, while the duo of Minamino and Golovin were responsible for supplying the Monegasque forward line. Philipp Köhn made his first official appearance for Monaco. The Monegasques wore a T-shirt in tribute to the seriously injured Breel Embolo as they warmed up.

👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 🆚 @ClermontFoot

‣ #CF63ASM pic.twitter.com/4UihvLoB2v

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 13, 2023

The scenario 🎞

The tempo was set from kick-off, and Grejohn Kyei was close to converting two Auvergne crosses in the penalty area but missed both (2′ and 3′). Unfortunately, from a corner, Mateusz Wieteska sent a powerful header into the net (1-0, 7′). The Rouge et Blanc responded almost immediately, supported by their fans that were out in force, with Vanderson hitting the post after dribbling past two defenders (11′).

The brilliant inspiration of the duo of Vanderson and Minamino!

The match started to heat up and Philipp Köhn had to save his teammates in a one-on-one against Andy Pelmard (18′). But AS Monaco were back in the game, and after a superb pass from Youssouf Fofana, Vanderson finished from close range after a magnificent one-two with Takumi Minamino (1-1, 26′). At this point, confidence and control changed hands, and Kyei was close to scoring from a Mehdi Zeffane cross but Philipp Köhn was vigilant (34′).

Wissam Ben-Yedder scores the second goal for Monaco

Then, from a through ball, he again came up against the Swiss goalkeeper, who made a great save (41′). Adi Hütter’s men took full advantage of this inefficiency, as Youssouf Fofana’s effort only his the Clermont-Ferrand keeper’s post, before Wissam Ben Yedder finished into an empty goal (1-2, 43′). The half-time whistle blew after another 10 minutes of added time.

43' 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥'𝐀𝐒 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐜𝐨 ⚽

Wissam Ben Yedder permet aux Rouge & Blanc de prendre l'avantage !

1️⃣-2️⃣ #CF63ASM pic.twitter.com/xo1AzXUdOW

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 13, 2023

From the restart, Mehdi Zeffane struck the crossbar from distance, before Monaco’s goalkeeper successfully pushed the ball away for a corner. Finally, the Clermont midfielder equalised from close range after a fine Seidu-Cham one-two (2-2, 53′).

Captain’ Wiss again!

Finally, on a set piece, Caio Henrique found Vanderson at the far post, whose pass came to Wissam Ben Yedder, who finished the job (2-3, 71′). This goal took the number 10’s total past the 100-goal mark for the Club! The 22 players were beginning to show signs of fatigue, and just before leaving the pitch, Zeffane’s header went just a hair’s breadth past the post (79’).

The knockout goal: #MadeInLaDiagonale

Philipp Köhn then had to deal with a tight cross from Konaté, before keeping out on a long-range shot (84′). But the substitutes brought a freshness to the game, and from Eliot Matazo’s pass, Maghnes Akliouche scored his first goal in Ligue 1 (2-4, 93′)! What a match… It wasn’t over yet, or almost, as Vanderson had a chance to score again (96’).

Quand tu marques ton premier but en @Ligue1UberEats ⚽

2️⃣-4️⃣ #CF63ASM pic.twitter.com/YyqsuRxZnl

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 13, 2023

The scoreline remained unchanged as AS Monaco began their Ligue 1 campaign in style at Clermont (2-4). Next test at home, next Sunday against Strasbourg (17:05). Daghe guys! 🇲🇨

📋 Match details :

Sunday, August 13 – Stade Gabriel-Montpied

Ligue 1 – Day 1: Clermont Foot 63 2-4 AS Monaco

Half-time: 1-2

Goals: Wieteska (7′), Cham (53′) for Clermont; Vanderson (26′), Ben Yedder (43′ and 71′) and Akliouche (93′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Magassa (21′), Camara (34′), Akliouche (95′) and Matazo (98′) for AS Monaco

Clermont Foot 63: Diaw – Seidu, Wieteska, Pelmard – Zeffane (Konaté, 81′), Gastien, Gonalons © (Magnin, 80′), Borges – Cham (Boutobba, 87′), Allevinah (Ogier, 76′) – Kyei (Andrić, 76′)

Substitutes: Ndiaye, Konaté, Ogier, Armougom, Keita, Magnin, Boutobba, Andric, Bela

Manager: Pascal Gastien

AS Monaco : Köhn – Matsima, Maripán, Magassa – Vanderson, Fofana, Camara (Matazo, 46′), C.Henrique (Aguilar, 94′) – Minamino (Akliouche, 86′), Golovin (Diatta, 86′), Ben Yedder © (Boadu, 91′)

Substitutes: Majecki, Aguilar, Jakobs, Akliouche, Diatta, Lemarechal, Matazo, Boadu, Volland

Manager: Adi Hütter