AS Monaco show maximum efficency by taking top spot in Reims!

A victory which was (very) well in hand before the international break. At the end of a completely wild match against a very good  Stade de Reims team, the AS Monaco players scored a big blow by clinically winning at Stade Auguste-Delaune (1-3). It was a significant win in front of an away section filled with 1000 Rouge et Blanc supporters, which allowed the Principality club to regain top spot in Ligue 1.

The context 📅

The Rouge et Blanc were facing a team who were third in Ligue 1 before the weekend, and had the ambition to build on a win over Olympique de Marseille at the Stade Louis-II (3-2) that was full of character. It was mission that would not be easy given Reims’ play last season (a run of 19 matches without defeat), and who were coming off consecutive wins in Lille (1-2) and against Lyon (2-0).

Quelques extraits de la conférence de presse du jour, en présence de Coach Adi Hütter et de Wilfried Singo 👀🎙️

‣ #SDRASM pic.twitter.com/4Hwk9ASrXV

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 5, 2023

The eleven 👥

To start this last challenge before the international break, the Monegasque manager chooses to play the same 3-4-1-2 he had used against OM. The starting eleven saw the return ofAleksandr Golovin,named the team’s MVP for the month of September but who had been suspended last Saturday, in support of the strike partnership of Ben Yedder and Balogun. Krépin Diatta replaced the injured Vanderson on the right flank.

The scenario 🎞

After a warm-up done in homage to Caio Henrique and an incandescent entrance of the players to the rhythm of the Monegasque away end, which was full to bursting, the Stade de Reims took the initiative. Teddy Teuma lifted the Stade Auguste-Delaune from two consecutive corners (6′ and 9′). But it was Keito Nakamura who came close to opening the scoring from 16 meters, and it took a great save from Philipp Köhn to keep the match level (11′)!

Balogun in attack mode

Will Still’s men pressed hard in this first quarter of an hour and De Smet then Munetsi, who would be flagged offside, both tried their luck (15′). The Monegasque response arrived via Folarin Balogun, whose attempt was finally blocked (17′). The balance of power was gradually becoming balanced, but we still needed a good tackle from Ismail Jakobs on Junya Ito to deny a chance (29′).

Izo finds the breakthrough!

The match was moving at 100 miles per hour and Balo’ again was involved with a deflected shot (31′), then after a run on the left where he played in Captain’ Wiss, but who was well-marked (33′). The Rémois did very poorly on the counter, but it was AS Monaco who ended up breaking the deadlock. On a superb pass by Krépin Diatta, it was the other Rouge et Blanc fullback, Ismail Jakobs, who score with a volley from close range (0-1, 42′)!

Happy boy 😋🇸🇳

0️⃣-1⃣ #SDRASM pic.twitter.com/vQdJ3VLi29

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 7, 2023

It was a first goal in Ligue 1 and with Diatta passing to Izo, it was also a 100% Lions of Teranga connection. Half-time came with this lead… which would quickly increase! First it was the former member of the Reims front line, one Folarin Balogun, who finished strongly, his shot nestling under the bar at the start of the second half (0-2, 46′). It was his third goal already in Rouge et Blanc this season.

Captain’ Wiss makes it 150!

But it was not over, since on an Ismail Jakobs dummy, Wissam Ben Yedder found the net with a header, his 150th goal in Ligue 1 (0-3, 49′)! And his fifth in the 2023-2024 season, the result of his third shot on target. These six minutes were enough to limit the Champenois side, but they still reacted by obtaining and converting a penalty (1-3, 58′).

Doublette ✌️

0⃣-3⃣ #SDRASM pic.twitter.com/bYIdr139zr

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 7, 2023

Close to a knockout blow…

The match then took an even crazier turn and the Monegasque number 10 was close to getting a double with his left foot (65′). This was just before Daramy came up short against Philipp Köhn again (67′). Reims were pushing hard with the help of their fans, but the Rouge et Blanc of Adi Hütter were also close to sealing the result on a lobbed shot by Takumi Minamino (77′). Then came a chance for Chrislain Matsima at a corner, and his header just grazed the post (78′).

Back in top spot!

Stade de Reims wanted to still salvage something, but Mohammed Daramy’s attempt was kept out by a superb save from Philipp Köhn (91′). AS Monaco then had one last opportunity through Maghnes Akliouche (93′). It mattered little, though — the Rouge et Blanc won to take top spot back from Nice ahead of the international break. Daghe Munegu! 🇲🇨

𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗜𝗥𝗘 😍🔝

Trois points de plus pour nos Rouge & Blanc qui s'imposent sur la pelouse de Reims 👊

𝑫𝑨𝑮𝑯𝑬 𝑴𝑼𝑵𝑬𝑮𝑼 ❤️🤍

1⃣-3⃣ #SDRASM pic.twitter.com/xjcuQL2QPi

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) October 7, 2023

Key moments 🎥

11′: A point-blank strike from Nakamura is repelled by Köhn
17′: Balogun’s attempt is blocked
31′: A deflected strike from Balogun doesn’t find the target
42′: Jakobs opens the scoring on a cross from Diatta (0-1)
46′: Balogun rushes in on goal and catapults the ball under the bar (0-2)
49′: Jakobs sends a fine pass on to the head of Ben Yedder for the third (0-3)
58′: A penalty conceded by Matsima is converted by Teuma (1-3)
65′: A left-footed strike from Ben Yedder is off target
67′: Daramy’s attempt is captured by Köhn
77′: Minamino’s chipped strike is slammed away by Diouf
78′: Matsima’s header hits the post
91′: A magnificent save from Köhn on a strike from Diakhon
93′: Akliouche’s shot is stopped by Diouf

📋 Match details:

Saturday, October 7 – Stade Auguste-Delaune

Ligue 1 – Matchday 8: Stade de Reims 1-3 AS Monaco

Halftime: 0-1

Goals: Teuma (58′ pen) for Reims; Jakobs (42′), Balogun (46′), Ben Yedder (49′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Zakaria (83′), Matsima (84′) for AS Monaco

Stade de Reims: Diouf – I.Diakité (Wilson-Esbrand, 86′), Okumu, Abdelhamid ©, De Smet – Munetsi, Matusiwa, Teuma (O.Diakité, 86′) – Ito, Daramy (Diakhon, 75′), Nakamura (Salama, 61′)

Substitutes: Olliero, Wilson-Esbrand, Agbadou, Atangana, Richardson, Salama, Khadra, O.Diakité, Diakhon

Manager: Will Still

AS Monaco: Köhn – Singo, Maripán, Magassa (Matsima, 46′) – Diatta, Fofana (Camara, 90′), Zakaria, Jakobs – Golovin (Minamino, 73′) – Ben Yedder ©, Balogun (Akliouche, 82′)

Substitutes: Majecki, Cartillier, Matsima, Akliouche, Camara, Diop, Matazo, Minamino, Boadu

Manager: Adi Hütter