Back to back MVPs for Denis Zakaria after the win in Auxerre
He has just been voted MVP for the second time in a row. Already the best player against Lens before the break where he scored AS Monaco’s only goal (1-1),) Denis Zakaria was at it again this weekend on the team’s trip to Auxerre (0-3), by putting in a monstrous performance. And that’s the least we can say, given how much he shone in midfield.
A delightful pass on Vandi’s goal
First there was the defensive side of things where the captain won nine balls – a record for an outfield player -, made three tackles and two defensive clearances. But it was especially offensively that he was able to show his impact by notably playing in a lovely ball to Vanderson behind the defense. The Brazilian full-back did not need to be asked twice to beat his defender with a clever bit of skill before finishing at the near post to score the second goal for the Rouge et Blanc.
La vista de Zak' 🪄
La conclusion de Vandi 🎯‣ #AJAASM pic.twitter.com/qbzH6OoTBy
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 16, 2024
Scorer for the second time in a row, a first!
Having provided the assist for the first time in the Principality, the Nati player then turned finisher to definitively secure the three points. A proverbial fox in the box, Captain Zak’ latched on to a ball poorly cleared by the goalkeeper to finish in the empty net. Having been a scorer against Lens, he has found the back of the net in two consecutive matches in the league for the first time in his career in the European top 5, notes Opta.
Le Capi' @Deniszakaria8 en renard des surfaces pour le but du 3-0 👀🦊
‣ #AJAASM pic.twitter.com/RUfvq697TY
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 16, 2024
Another MVP + and a place in l’Équipe’s Team of the Round
This goal thus concluded a near-perfect match in which he was able to delight the 900 Monaco supporters present in the away end, notably showing off his technical skills, as illustrated by an action in which he beat three opponets in midfield.
Captain Zakaria is on another level 🇨🇭©️ pic.twitter.com/8gY9S9BhG1
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) September 16, 2024
It is therefore no surprise that the Swiss international was widely voted MVP of this fourth round with nearly 74.5% of the votes. He finished ahead of Thilo Kehrer, the first scorer in the game and present in the Team of the round with his captain (7.6%), as well as Vanderson (6.4%).Bravo Zak’! 👏
🏆 2024-2025 MVP Recap
First half:
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 1 : AS Monaco 1-0 AS Saint-Etienne: Takumi Minamino (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 2: Olympique Lyonnais 0–2 AS Monaco: Eliesse Ben Seghir (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 3: AS Monaco 1-1 RC Lens: Denis Zakaria (1)
- Ligue 1 – Matchday 4: AJ Auxerre 0-3 AS Monaco: Denis Zakaria (2)
