Reduced to ten, the Rouge et Blanc fall to Nice

Dominant until Vanderson was harshly sent off before the break in this 107th Côte d’Azur derby played under the watchful eye of President Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Rouge et Blanc ended up losing, not without having tried everything until the final moments. ✍️

The context 📅

Only five days after a big win over Red Star Belgrade (5-1), AS Monaco players played one of the most important matches of the season: the Derby in Nice. Undefeated at the Allianz Riviera since 2020, they wanted to continue to show their local supremacy to temporarily take sole control of the league before the Clasico of OM-PSG scheduled for this evening.

The XI 👥

For this Côte d’Azur derby, Adi Hütter wanted to field the same team as during the second half in Belgrade. Unfortunately, Denis Zakaria had to pull out at the last minute and was replaced by Soungoutou Magassa, who played next to Lamine Camara. Thilo Kehrer and Wilfried Singo played in central defence, while Vanderson and Caio Henrique would play on the wings. Aleksandr Golovin, Takumi Minamino, Maghnes Akliouche and Breel Embolo would occupy the attacking positions.

The scenario 🎞

The 107th Côte d’Azur derby began with a large domination on the part of the Monegasques who would keep the ball. Tom Louchet cleared the ball off his line (11′), before a cross from Aleksandr Golovin was barely kept out by Marcin Bulka (20′). At the other enx, Radoslaw Majecki was vigilant in front to deny Jérémie Boga (21′).

Breel Embolo at the second time of asking

AS Monaco then thought they had opened the scoring through Breel Embolo but Takumi Minamino was flagged slightly offside beforehand (22′). The Niçois responded again through Boga but Radek’ was sharp (26′), as was his Polish counterpart in front of Thilo Kehrer (29′). However, he could do nothing against the Swiss striker, who was ideally played in behind by Maghnes Akliouche (39′). After having opened his account against Belgrade, Breel did the same again.

An unfavourable end to the half

Unfortunately, the end of the first half did not turn in favour of our Rouge et Blanc, who conceded the equaliser t0 Evan Guessand on a set piece (45+1′). Then Vanderson received a second harsh yellow card, synonymous with being sent off (45+3′).

𝗠𝗶-𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀 ⏸️

Fin de premier acte compliquée pour nos Monégasques, qui évolueront en infériorité numérique en seconde période.

Rendez-vous dans 15 minutes 👊

1️⃣-1️⃣ #OGCNASM pic.twitter.com/6RjjoUCzhL

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 27, 2024

With a numerical advantage, Nice logically kept the ball and the match came to life just before the hour mark. On a great night, Radoslaw Majecki won his duel against Guessand then caught a header from Boga (57′). Monaco’s response came from Lamine Camara, whose shot hit the crossbar (57′), before the Nice striker forced the Polish ‘keeper to be vigilant at its near post (58’).

A terrible twist of fate

Unfortunately, on a poorly played  back pass from Krépin Diatta, Gaëtan Laborde, who had just come on, challenged Radek, and beat him with a chipped ball (71′). The Rouge et Blanc tried to react through Breel Embolo but his header lacked power (78′). Shortly thereafter, Hicham Boudaoui’s strike forced Majecki to dive to clear the danger (81′), while that of Eliesse Ben Seghir from 30 meters was saved (90′).

A chance to bounce back against Angers

It was unfortunately the last chance of the game and AS Monaco had to bow out by the smallest of margins, conceding its first defeat of the season (2-1), but will remain on the podium no matter what. The team’s next match is Friday at the Stade Louis-II with a visit from Angers (7 p.m.), on the 10th matchday of Ligue 1, with the firm desire to bounce back and immediately pick up a win.

C'est terminé 🏁

Les Monégasques s'inclinent pour la première fois de la saison au terme d'une rencontre frustrante.

Prochain rendez-vous vendredi, à domicile, face à Angers 👊

2️⃣-1️⃣ #OGCNASM pic.twitter.com/DCmu4qeqlY

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 27, 2024

Key moments 🎥

11′: Louchet clears off his line
20′: Golovin’s cross is wild and Bulka pushes it out for a corner
21′: Boga misses a shot that Majecki gathers
22′: Embolo is denied a goal for Minamino being offside
26′: Majecki wins a one-on-one against Boga
29′: Kehrer’s header is stopped by Bulka
39′: Akliouche’s superb pass for Embolo sees him score (0-1)
45+1′: Guessand’s header equalises (1-1)
45+3′: Vanderson’s second yellow card sees him sent off
57′: Majecki saves twice to deny Guessand and Boga
57′: Bulka misses Camara’s shot which hits the bar
58′: Majecki keeps watch at the near post in front of Guessand
71′: Laborde doubles the lead on the counterattack (2-1)
78′: Embolo’s header caught by Bulka
81′: Majecki gets down well on to keep out Boudaoui’s powerful strike
90′: Ben Seghir’s strike from 30 meters is stopped by Bulka

The stat 📊

Scorer of the opening goal, Breel Embolo scored his 100th professional goal (31 with Basel, 25 with Borussia Monchengladbach, 17 with AS Monaco, 15 with Switzerland and 12 with Schalke).

📋 Match details:

Sunday, October 27 (17:00) – Allianz Riviera

Ligue 1 – Matchday 9: OGC Nice 2-1 AS Monaco

Halftime: 1-1

Goals: Guessand (45+1′), Laborde (71′) for Nice; Embolo (39′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Magassa (15′), Vanderson (35′) (45+3′), Singo (45′), Camara (52′) for AS Monaco; Guessand (45+3′), Bard (77′) for Nice

OGC Nice: Bulka – Abdelmomen, Bombito, Bard – Louchet (Mendy, 79′), Boudaoui, Rosario ©, Abdi – Cho (Laborde 61′), Guessand (Bouanani, 85′), Boga (Diop, 79′)

Substitutes: Dupé, Mendy, Nandjou, Camara, Bouanani, Diop, Laborde, Moukoko, Orakpo

Manager: Franck Haise

AS Monaco : Majecki – Vanderson, Singo, Kehrer ©, C.Henrique (Ouattara, 84e) – Camara (Ilenikhena, 75e), Magassa (Diatta, 46e) – Akliouche, Minamino (Ben Seghir, 75e), Golovin – Embolo

Substitutes: Köhn, Mawissa, Ouattara, Ben Seghir, Bouabré, Diatta, Matazo, Ilenikhena

Manager: Adi Hütter