Without hesitation, AS Monaco qualifies for the playoffs
After an ideal start to this double-legged tie against Sparta Prague (a 2-0 victory in the first leg), the Rouge et Blanc finished the job on Tuesday at the Stade Louis-II with another 3-1 victory. For this second leg, with the team wearing the third kit, Niko Kovac brought in Djibril Sidibé on the right side of the defense, while ” Yedderland” were back leading the attack.
An imperious Czech goalkeeper in the first half
And the two strikers were the ones who stood out the most in this first half. Indeed, it was Wissam Ben Yedder who created the chance of the match with his header going just over (17′) before it was Kevin Volland’s turn to twice test Florin Nita.
His first effort was on a one-on-one (20′) before hitting a long shot low to the ground a few minutes later (23′). Delivering some very inspired play in the first 45 minutes, the Czech goalkeeper then kept out a magnificent effort from Aleksandr Golovin, as it was heading to the top corner.
A perfect recovery in the second half
After the second half, the Monegasques shifted into gear and all but finished the match in six minutes. With a powerful strike under the bar from a tight angle, Gelson Martins was first to find the net (50′), scoring his second goal in two games, after one against Nantes four days earlier.
2 buts lors des 2 derniers matchs au 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝑳𝒐𝒖𝒊𝒔-𝑰𝑰 🔥#ASMSparta | #RoadToChampions pic.twitter.com/kQJI33nbxV
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 10, 2021
Aleksandr Golovin then doubled the lead in the 56th minute. Ideally played in by Wissam Ben Yedder, the Russian midfielder easily beat the Czech ‘keeper with a flat-footed shot, his first goal of the season.
A meeting with Shakhtar in a week
Despite the Czechs pulling one back through David Molberg-Karlsson in the 78th, the Rouge et Blanc kept moving forward and finished two goals to the good thanks to a fine effort from Sofiane Diop. The number 37 skilfully turned his man before finishing at the near post.
The teammates of captain Wissam Ben Yedder this won 3-1 in this return leg (5-1 overall) and qualified for the play-offs of the Champions League. They will find Shakhtar Donetsk there, a winner earlier in the evening in Genk — the first leg is on August 17 at 9 p.m. at the Stade Louis-II.
𝘿𝘼𝙂𝙃𝙀𝙀𝙀 ❤️🤍
Nos Monégasques se qualifient pour les 𝙋𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙨 de la @ChampionsLeague après cette 2ème victoire en 2 matchs face au Sparta Prague ✊🔜👀 𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚑𝚝𝚊𝚛 𝙳𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚜𝚔
3⃣-1⃣ #ASMSparta | #RoadToChampions pic.twitter.com/nEJQf12EVu
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) August 10, 2021
Match details
Third Qualifying Round, Second Leg – Champions League
AS Monaco 3-1 Sparta Prague
Halftime: 0-0
Goals: Gelson Martins (50′), Golovin (56′), Diop (81′) for AS Monaco; Moberg-Karlsson (78′) for Sparta Prague
Bookings: Tchouameni (49′) for AS Monaco; Wiesner (5′) and Pulkrab (88e) for Sparta Prague
AS Monac : Nübel – Sidibé, Disasi, Badiashile, Caio Henrique (Jakobs, 59′) – Gelson Martins (Diatta, 59′), Fofana, Tchouameni (Matazo, 60′), Diop (Golovin, 60′) – Volland (Fàbregas, 67′), Ben Yedder ©
Substitutes: Majecki, Aguilar, Maripán, Matsima, Jakobs, Pavlovic, Fàbregas, Matazo, Diop, Lemarechal, Isidor, Diatta
Manager: Niko Kovac
Sparta Prague: Nita – Wiesner (Gabriel, 84′), Panak, Hancko, Polidar – Soucek, Pavelka ©, Sacek (Pulkrab, 59′) – Karabec, Hlozek (Minchev, 67′), Pesek (Molberg-Karlsson, 67′)
Substitutes: Heca, Holek, Gabriel, Molberg-Karlsson, Minchev, Drchal, Pulkrab, Stetina, Vitik, Okeke, Patrak
Manager: Pavel Vrba
