AS Monaco and Nice draw in a derby full of twists and turns

It was a confrontation that remained in the balance until the end. Facing OGC Nice on Matchday 7 of Ligue 1 McDonald’s, AS Monaco players drew, extending their unbeaten run in the top flight in 2025 at the Stade Louis-II. The result was achieved in the presence of HSH Prince Albert II and President Dmitry Rybolovlev. ✍️

The context 📅

The Rouge et Blanc approached this 109th derby in the top flight with the ambition of repeating their performance in the week against Manchester City in the Champions League (2-2). This would come against Les Aiglons who have been struggling at the start of the season, but who had come to win at the foot of the Rock during two of their last three trips.

The XI 👥

To do this, Adi Hütter went back to a four-man defense due to absences, with Dier and Salisu centrally. The Teze-Coulibaly partnership was back in the middle of the park, while Takumi Minamino returned to the starting eleven —  also worth noting was Ansu Fati’s first start in Ligue 1.

The scenario 🎞

The match started at a good pace, but the first three shots were from Nice, even though Cho’s cross-shot (6′), Vanhoutte’s volley (10′) and Moffi’s effort (11′) all failed to find the target. The visitors finally thought they had scored on a header from Mendy, but he was ultimately flagged offside (16′). Then came the moment for the Rouge et Blanc to respond through Mamadou Coulibaly, whose long-range attempt was blocked (20′).

Goals against the run of play

Jordan Teze then forced Diouf to push away his free kick from wide (23′), but it was Le Gym who finally found the net through the former Monaco player Sofiane Diop (0-1, 29′). It was a stroke of luck that would precede another, when Ali Abdi received a second yellow card, synonymous with his being sent off (34′). Unfortunately, Nice were awarded a penalty shortly thereafter, which Diop was responsible for converting for his double (0-2, 43′).

Deuxième jaune et exclusion d'Abdi 🟥

Les Niçois sont à 10.

35' | 0⃣-1️⃣ #ASMOGCN

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 5, 2025

Hope in the form of Ansu Fati!

But as this 131st derby decided to be unpredictable, Mr. Delajod was again called by the VAR for a handball by Nice this time. It was a repeat performance, but in the other area, where Ansu Fati allowed the Monegasques to reduce the gap just before the break (1-2), for his fourth goal already in the top flight! We started in earnest again in the second half, with another penalty win by substitute Folarin Balogun (51′).

Never two without three…

Bombito was injured on the spot and was stretchered off, while the Spanish winger scored his second Ligue 1 McDonald’s brace and allowed the Rouge et Blanc to level the score (2-2)! This match was completely crazy and saw numerous changes after the hour mark. There were opportunities for George Ilenikhena to show himself to be dangerous with his head (76′ and 87′) and from deep (80′), after a few attempts that were off target (60′, 68′, 81′ and 88′).

Adi Hütter’s men pushed hard, but Les Aiglons didn’t give in, despite nine minutes of added time. AS Monaco and OGC Nice thus neutralized each other in the Derby (2-2), just before the international break.

Key moments 🎥

6′: Cho’s cross-shot is blocked by Köhn
10′: Vanhoutte’s volley is blocked by the Monaco defense
11′: Moffi’s curling shot goes wide
16′: Vanhoutte crosses for Mendy, who scores from an offside position
20′: Coulibaly’s long-range shot is blocked
23′: Teze’s direct free kick is saved by Diouf
29′: Diop’s curling shot finds the net (0-1)
34′: Abdi gets a second yellow card and it sent off
43′: Nice wins a penalty and Diop converts (0-2)
45+5′: AS Monaco have a penalty won and scored by Fati (1-2)
48′: Clauss’s left-footed shot goes wide
57′: Fati scores again from a penalty won by Balogun (2-2)
68′: Ouattara’s long-range effort is off target
70′: Balogun’s attempt is saved by Diouf
76′: Diatta crosses for Ilenikhena whose header is off target
80′: Ilenikhena’s through ball is blocked by Diouf
81′: Salisu’s powerful shot goes flying wide
87′: Ilenikhena’s header is off target
88”: Idumbo and Fati both have attempts
96′: Akliouche’s left-footed effort is saved by Diouf
96′: Idumbo’s curler grazes the crossbar
97′: Teze’s shot from 25 meters is saved by Diouf

The stat 📊

Ansu Fati has scored six goals in five matches in all competitions this season with AS Monaco (5 in Ligue 1 and 1 in the Champions League), which is already more than in his last two seasons combined with Brighton and Barcelona (4 goals in 41 matches).

🗓️ Match details:

Sunday, October 5 2025 (17:15) – Stade Louis-II

Ligue 1 McDonald’s – Matchday 7: AS Monaco 2-2 OGC Nice

Halftime: 1-2

Goals: Fati (45+5′, 56′) for AS Monaco; Diop (29′, 43′) for Nice

Bookings: Salisu (71′) for AS Monaco; Abdi (24′, 34′) for Nice

Sendings off: Abdi (34′)

AS Monaco: Köhn – Diatta, Dier ©, Salisu, Ouattara (C.Henrique, 70′) – Akliouche, Teze, Coulibaly (Balogun, 46′), Minamino (Idumbo, 70′) – Biereth (Ilenikhena, 69′), Fati 

Substitutes: Lienard, C.Henrique, Kiwa, Cabral, Idumbo, Wamu, Balogun, Brunner, Ilenikhena

Manager: Adi Hütter

Nice: Diouf – Mendy, Bombito (Louchet, 56′), Bard – Clauss ©, Vanhoutte, Boudaoui (Abdul Samed, 72′), Abdi – Cho (Boga, 71′), Moffi (Oppong, 38′), Diop (Sanson, 72′)

Substitutes: Dupé, Oppong, Abdul Samed, Gouveia, Jansson, Louchet, Sanson, Boga, Kevin Carlos

Manager: Franck Haise