AS Monaco beats Lyon to qualify for the Champions League!

The Rock is unsinkable! AS Monaco picked up their seventh home win of 2025 in their 33rd matchday clash against Olympique Lyonnais, building on the year’s unbeaten run at the Stade Louis-II. It was also a victory synonymous with qualification for the Champions League, and achieved in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and President Dmitry Rybolovlev, enabling the Principality club to retain its place on the Ligue 1 podium. ✍️

The context 📅

The Rouge et Blanc attacked this final home match in the top flight with the desire to stay unbeaten at home in 2025,while maintaining their chances of qualifying for the Champions League. It wouldn’t be easy against the vengeful Olympiens after a having beaten them in the reverse fixture (0-2), and who would also be giving their all to stay in the race for the Champions League.

The XI 👥

To face this major challenge, Adi Hütter opted for stability by relying on his customary 4-4-2 formation. We also noted that Thilo Kehrer was back in central defence, while Jordan Teze was back on the right flak. In attack, the Biereth-Embolo duo led the line.

The scenario 🎞

This Matchday 33 fixture kicked off in a big-time atmosphere at the Stade Louis-II, with a sold-out crowd for the occasion. The two teams traded blows in an opening stanza where Lacazette failed to find hit the target (6′) and his Danish counterpart came within a whisker of beating Perri with a mis-played clearance (7′). The game was end-to-end, and Tessmann screwed his attempt past the Monaco goalkeeper (11′).

Opportunities at both ends

Philipp Köhn then impressed in keeping out a powerful strike from the Lyon number 10, which delivered with a magnificent header (12′). There was thus no dull moment at the foot of the Rock, and Breel Embolo even played in Takumi Minamino to challenge the Olympian goalkeeper who won the duel (17′). It was the same ten minutes later, when the Japanese international got on the end of a pass from Jordan Teze (26′).

🤏

26' | 0⃣-0⃣ #ASMOL pic.twitter.com/9hZp6YL6vT

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) May 10, 2025

Köhn decisive, Akliouche is sharp

Then it was OL’s turn and Fofana’s chance to allow Köhn to shine again (32′). The pace of the match then slowed slightly until halftime. But the Rouge et Blanc came back in full force, and on a back pass from Mika, Breel was denied by Perri (51′). The opening goal was then very close when Maghnes Akliouche outwitted the Lyon defense and grazed the OL goalkeeper’s right post (52′).

Taki Taki, the difference-maker!

A shudder then ran through the Fontvieille end as Tessmann’s long-range shot was deflected for a corner (56′). But by pushing hard in transition, AS Monaco managed to break their opponents’ resistance with a ball that Takumi Minamino got to work on and slotted perfectly into the top corner (1-0, 62′)! It was a superb effort from the Japanese player, who scored his sixth Ligue 1 goal this season.

𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗜 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗢 !!!

Taki trouve la faille pour ouvrir le score et délivrer le Stade Louis-II 🔥

63' | 1⃣-0️⃣ #ASMOL pic.twitter.com/OgLB7fpWaq

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) May 10, 2025

Captain’ Zak doubles the lead!

The Monegasques had room to breathe, the crowd too, and after a half-hearted attempt from Biereth (67′), they even burst into joy. A superb free kick from Lamine Camara found Denis Zakaria whose header doubled the lead for the Rouge et Blanc (2-0, 68′)!

It was a seventh assist for the two-time African young player of the year, and his captain’s sixth goal. The Olympians were reeling, and attempts from Tessmann (72′) and Cherki (77′) barely caused any concern.

AS Monaco heads into the Champions League!

Adi Hütter’s men held firm, and Singo even came close scoring with a header (81′), before Caio Henrique saw his free kick fly wide (92′). It was immaterial, as AS Monaco won against Olympique Lyonnais (2-0) and qualified for the next Champions League thanks to the evening’s results.. DAGHE MUNEGU !!! 🇲🇨

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐆𝐔𝐄, 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐖𝐄 𝐆𝐎 ✨

👋 @ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/9lubmBvCAY

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) May 10, 2025

Key moments 🎥

6′: Maitland-Niles crosses for Lacazette, who misses the target
7′: Biereth blocks a clearance from Perri, but it goes wide
11′: Fofana passes to Tessmann, who mis-strikes his shot
12′: Lacazette’s powerful shot is deflected by Köhn
17′: Embolo finds Minamino in the box, but his effor is blocked by Perri
26′: Teze passes to Minamino, whose shot is deflected for a corner
32′: Fofana’s curling shot is deflected with a fingertip save
51′: Biereth cuts the ball back to Embolo, who shoots but is blocked by Perri
53′: Akliouche turns and shoots in the box, but his effort grazes the post
56′: Tessmann’s long shot is deflected for a corner
62′: Akliouche plays in Minamino, who finishes perfectly from range (1-0)
67′: Biereth’s shot across goal is saved by a diving Perri
68′: Camara’s free kick finds Zakaria who scores with a header (2-0)
72′: Tessmann’s long-range shot is blocked by Köhn
77′: Cherki’s shot from a tight angle is saved by Köhn
81′: Singo comes close to heading in a Caio Henrique free kick
92′: Caio Henrique’s free kick misses the target

🗓️ Match details:

Saturday, May 10 2025 (21:00) – Stade Louis-II

Ligue 1 McDonald’s – Matchday 33: AS Monaco 2-0 Olympique Lyonnais

Halftime: 0-0

Goals: Minamino (62′) and Zakaria (68′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Camara (59′) for AS Monaco; Mata (9′), Almada (45+2′), Tagliafico (90′) et Niakhaté (92′) for Lyon

AS Monaco: Köhn – Teze (Vanderson, 76′), Singo, Kehrer, C.Henrique – Akliouche, Camara (Magassa, 78′), Zakaria © (Mawissa, 85′), Minamino (Diatta, 86′) – Biereth (Ben Seghir, 76′), Embolo

Substitutes: Majecki, Mawissa, Ouattara, Salisu, Singo, Vanderson, Ben Seghir, Diatta, Magassa, Ilenikhena

Manager: Adi Hütter

Lyon: Perri – Maitland-Niles, Mata, Niakhaté, Tagliafico – Veretout (Mikautadze, 76′), Tessmann, Matić (Cherki, 65′) – Almada, Lacazette, Fofana

Substitutes: Da Silva, Descamps, Abner Vinicius, Caleta-Car, Kumbedi, Omari, Akouokou, Cherki, Mikautadze

Manager: Paulo Fonseca