Imperious in a wild derby, AS Monaco beat OGC Nice!
They had promised a reaction and they clearly delivered. Combative from start to finish in a Derby with a completely crazy outcome, the AS Monaco players worked hard for a victory as symbolic as it was important away to Nice (2-3), under the eyes of President Dmitry Rybolovlev. ✍️
The context 📅
After being eliminated in the Coupe de France Round of 16 in Rouen (1-1, 6-5 on penalties), the Rouge et Blanc came to Nice with a desire for revenge. This is before remembering that Les Aiglons had won in the Principality in the reverse fixture (0-1). It must be said that the Allianz Riviera has been a happy hunting ground for them recently since they have not lost there since 2020 (2 wins, 1 draw).
The eleven 👥
To face this major challenge, coach Adi Hütter opted to play in a 4-3-2-1. Thilo Kehrer thus started on the right side of defense, while Mohamed Camara would reinforce the midfield. The Monegasque captain, Wissam Ben Yedder, led the line, supported by the duo of Minamino and Golovin.
The scenario 🎞
The match began in an electric atmosphere and with an away end filled with more than 400 Monegasque supporters. These fans would soon be jubilant, since Denis Zakaria sent a missile into Marcin Bulka’s top corner at the end of the first quarter of an hour (0-1, 16′)! It was a sublime goal, the second from the Swiss international with AS Monaco, and the team’s 20th in the first half this season in Ligue 1.
Avec vous #PartoutToujours ❤️🤍
10' | 0️⃣-0⃣ #OGCNASM pic.twitter.com/vrYdbFRaBI
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 11, 2024
The goalkeepers respond to shots from range
Caught cold, Les Aiglons tried to react, but neither Sanson’s header (17′) nor Dante’s volley (20′) found the target. Shortly thereafter, Philipp Köhn punched a curling cross by Evan Guessand (22′) clear, and then did the same with an effort from Morgan Sanson (34′). In the meantime, Takumi Minamino had an effort in the opposing area, but his header was kept out by Bulka (24′).
Denis Zakaria sees double!
Unfortunately, Nice won a penalty on the counter, from which Gaëtan Laborde wrong-footed Philipp Köhn (1-1, 37′). The 22 players went into halftime with the score tied, thanks to a last big save from the Swiss goalkeeper to deny Evan Guessand (45+3′), and this despite a great first half hour from Monaco. It was a start to a half that would be repeated, since on a fine cross by Takumi Minamino, Denis Zakaria gave himself a double with a fine header (1-2)!
A incredible turnabout
It was the fifth assist this season for the Japanese, who has now been involved in ten goals this season (5 goals, 5 assists). The match then took another turn when Dante was sent off for a wild tackle on Taki’ (54′).
But despite possession being in favor of the Monegasques, it was Les Aiglons who equalized from a corner by Evan Guessand (2-2, 74′). This was a short-lived moment of joy for the Allianz Riviera, though, since on a deflected shot by Ismail Jakobs, Aleksandr Golovin slotted the ball under the bar (2-3, 77′)’!
La joie du buteur ❤️
2⃣-3⃣ #OGCNASM pic.twitter.com/wiHLGU2Kwj
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) February 11, 2024
It was the sixth goal in Ligue 1 this season for the Russian winger, who once again gave AS Monaco the lead. The last quarter of an hour logically was tense between the two teams, but the Rouge et Blanc held on through a succsession of set pieces, through seven minutes of added time.
It was job done, AS Monaco won and regained regional supremacy! DAGHE MUNEGU! 🇲🇨
Key moments
7′: A strike from Laborde which flies wide of the top corner
16′: A powerful shot from Zakaria lands in Bulka’s top corner (0-1)
17′: Sanson’s header is off-target
20′: Dante has a volley recovery from a corner but it’s over the bar
22′: A shot across goal by Guessand is stopped by Köhn
24′: An off-balance header from Minamino is kept out by Bulka
32′: A big save by Köhn on a curling shot by Sanson
35′: Penalty to Nice for a foul on Louchet
37′: It’s converted by Laborde, who wrong-foots Köhn (1-1)
45+3′: An extraordinary save from Köhn denies Guessand
50′: A magnificent cross from Minamino picks out Zakaria who scores with a header (1-2)
54′: A wild tackle by Dante sees him receive a red card
74′: A corner by Sanson lands on the head of Guessand (2-2)
77′: A shot by Jakobs is cleared by Bulka but only to the feet of Golovin who finishes (2-3)
87′: A cross from Ben Yedder finds Balogun who fires over
91′: Cho’s shot across goal is overhit
The stat 📊
Denis Zakaria scored the first double of his career in all competitions. The Swiss international also found the net from outside the box for the first time in the league since May 11, 2019, in the Bundesliga with Borussia Mönchengladbach (against Nuremberg).
📋 Match details:
Sunday, February 11 – Allianz Riviera
Ligue 1 – Matchday 21: OGC Nice 2-3 AS Monaco
Halftime: 1-1
Goals: Laborde (37′) and Guessand (74′) for Nice; Zakaria (16′, 50′) and Golovin (77′) for AS Monaco
Bookings: Lotomba (33′), Louchet (60′), Boudaoui (67′), Guessand (83′) and Ndayishimiye (94e) for Nice ; Kehrer (35′), Golovin (44′), Zakaria (83′) and Akliouche (98′) for AS Monaco
Red cards: Dante (54′)
Nice: Bulka – Lotomba (Rosario, 67′), Todibo, Dante ©, Bard – Sanson (Rosier, 83′), Ndayishimiye, Boudaoui (Perraud, 75′) – Laborde (Cho, 75′), Guessand, Louchet (Thuram, 67′)
Substitutes: Dupé, Mendy, Perraud, Rosier, Rosario, Thuram, Baldé, Cho, Claude-Maurice
Manager: Francesco Farioli
AS Monaco: Köhn – Kehrer, Maripán, Salisu, Jakobs – Fofana, Camara (Diop, 94′), Zakaria – Minamino (Akliouche, 79′), Golovin (Balogun, 80′) – Ben Yedder ©
Substitutes: Majecki, Ouattara, Akliouche, Ben Seghir, Coulibaly, Diop, Magassa, Balogun, Michal
Manager: Adi Hütter
