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Ligue 1 Uber Eats 23 April 2023, 01:02

Lacking an answer, AS Monaco fall to Lens

Lacking an answer, AS Monaco fall to Lens
Pegged back in the first half, the Rouege et Blanc lost at the Stade Bollaert and remained in fourth place. The goal is to bounce back against Montpellier next Sunday (1 p.m.).

The run has come to an end in Lens. At the end of a match in which they were dominated, AS Monaco lost 3-0 at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis despite a few chances at the end of the match. With this result, they remain fourth see also the Sang et Or move five points ahead. The team will now have to win in Montpellier next Sunday (1 p.m.) to get back on track…

The context 📅

Winners against  Lorient last weekend (3-1), the Rouge et Blanc were full of confidence as they looked to build on what had been four straight matches without defeat in the league. This good run had allowed them to move within two points of Lens before this crucial match in the fight for a place on the podium. Here a victory would allow them to move in front of their opponents on the evening.

They are two teams that play well and are very close, with coaches and players that play with a lot of ambition. We are developing a style of attacking football, and that is a good thing for the people who are going to attend or watch this game. It is also a match between a young team, and a more experienced side.
Philippe Clement in the pre-match press conferenceAS Monaco manager

The eleven 👥

Undoubtedly satisfied with the team’s display against Les Merlus, Philippe Clement again played a flat 4-4-2 with the only change being Ismail Jakobs on the left wing to replace Aleksandr Golovin, who had come up injured at the last minute. Wissam Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland started in attack,  and Krépin Diatta played on the right..

The scenario 🎞

In front of a completely filled Monegasque away end, the Monegasques were pegged back by Loïs Openda twice, in the ninth and the sixteenth minute. Caught cold, they tried to react and Youssouf Fofana tried his luck from a tight angle but his shot landed wide of Brice Samba’s goal (32′). About ten minutes later, Seko Fofana tried his luck witha heavy strike that came off the bar of Alexander Nübel (45′).

An attempt to react

Behind by two goals at the break, the Rouge et Blanc were then close to conceding a third after the break but Adrien Thomasson’s goal was disallowed after review (50′). Unfortunately, he would score six minutes later, played in by Loïs Openda (56′). Despite this goal, Philippe Clement’s men did not want to give up but Wissam Ben Yedder lost his duel against Brice Samba (72′).

Bounce back against Montpellier on Sunday

Then it was the turn of Edan Diop, who had barely come on, to shoot slightly over the bar (75′). Then, the Belgian manager made two changes including bringing on Takumi Minamino. The Japanese quickly had a chance except his attempt lacked power (79′), while the young player  shot just wide (90 + 1′).

In a difficult match, AS Monaco fell at the Stade Bollaert (0-3) and remain fourth at the end of this 32nd round. We will now have to bounce back next Sunday against Montpellier (1 p.m.) at the Stade Louis-II.

Key moments 🎥

9′: Goal by Openda (1-0)
16′: Openda gets his double from a cross by Machado (2-0)
32′: Youssouf Fofana’s strike is just outside of Samba’s net
45′: Seko Fofana hits the bar
50′: A goal is denied to Thomasson after VAR intervenes
56′: Thomasson makes the lead 3-0
72′: Ben Yedder comes up short against Samba

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Match details

Saturday April 22  – Stade Bollaert-Delelis

Ligue 1 – Matchday 32: RC Lens 3-0 AS Monaco

Halftime: 2-0

Goals: Openda (9′), (16′), Thomasson (56′)

Bookings: Maripan (22′), Ben Yedder (68e’)

RC Lens: Samba – Gradit, Danso, Medina – Frankowski, Onana (Poreba, 88′), S.Fofana, Machado (Haïdara, 77′) – Sotoca, Openda, Thomasson (Fulgini, 77′)

Substitutes: Leca, Haïdara, Boura, Le Cardinal, Poreba, Pereira Da Costa, Claude-Maurice, Fulgini, Buksa

Manager: Franck Haise

AS Monaco: Nübel – Vanderson, Disasi, Maripán, C.Henrique – Diatta (Diop, 69′), Fofana, Camara (Matazo, 87′), Jakobs – Volland (Minamino, 76′), Ben Yedder © (Boadu, 77′)

Substitutes: Didillon, Aguilar, Matsima, Akliouche, Ben Seghir, Diop, Matazo, Minamino, Boadu

Manager: Philippe Clement