A victory against the league leaders. The AS Monaco players showed real character after coming from two goals down to beat Lens on Saturday (2-3). It was their second consecutive league win, with Denis Zakaria voted MVP on the AS Monaco App and once again selected in L’Équipe’s Team of the Week, alongside Sébastien Pocognoli, who was named coach of Matchday 23 in Ligue 1 McDonald’s.

Denis Zakaria involved in the first two goals

And as the Red and Whites managed an incredible comeback, it was once again thanks in part to their captain. With six clearances (the highest total of the match), one interception and two aerial duels won, Monaco’s number 6 was also decisive in the opposition’s half. It was Zak who won back possession in the build-up to  Folarin Balogun's goal to pull one back (2-1, 62').

Then, perfectly positioned to get on the end of a Caio Henrique cross, Zak then powered a fierce header that struck the crossbar before hitting the back of the net, which saw the team draw level with Lens (2–2, 70'). Having got on the scoresheet against Nantes (1-3) last week, Denis Zakaria won the MVP award for this clash against Lens with 82% of the votes, beating off the American goalscorer and Mamadou Coulibaly. Bravo Zak! 👏

Coach Poco and Zak in the Team of the Week

A hugely important goal, one that became even more decisive when Ansu Fati, brought on by Sébastien Pocognoli just three minutes earlier, scored his eighth goal of the season with a delicate lob over Risser (2–3, 72'). It was inspired coaching that allowed Monaco to overturn the league leaders on their own turf (2–3) and hold firm in the closing stages, with Denis Zakaria once again commanding the Red and White defence like a true leader.

They were bold and successful choices that paid off that saw Sébastien Pocognoli awarded a rating of 7 in the national sports daily. The Monaco coach therefore features in L’Équipe’s Team of the Week for Matchday 23, where he is joined by his captain, who received an outstanding 8 and appears in this XI for the third time in four weeks - simply unstoppable. Daghe gentlemen! 👏

👥 Recap of appearances in L’Équipe’s Team of the Week 2025–2026


  • Ligue 1 - MD1 : AS Monaco 3-1 Le Havre = Maghnes Akliouche (1)

  • Ligue 1 - MD3 : AS Monaco 3-2 RC Strasbourg = Folarin Balogun (1)

  • Ligue 1 - MD4 : AJ Auxerre 1-2 AS Monaco = Vanderson (1)

  • Ligue 1 - MD5 : AS Monaco 5-2 FC Metz = Ansu Fati (1)

  • Ligue 1 - MD10 : FC Nantes 3-5 AS Monaco = Maghnes Akliouche (2) and Mamadou Coulibaly (1)

  • Ligue 1 - MD14 : AS Monaco 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain = Mohammed Salisu (1)

  • Ligue 1 - MD16 : Olympique de Marseille 1-0 AS Monaco = Thilo Kehrer (1)

  • Ligue 1 - MD20 : AS Monaco 4-0 Stade Rennais = Maghnes Akliouche (3), Mamadou Coulibaly (2), Denis Zakaria (1) and AS Monaco (1)

  • Ligue 1 - MD22 : AS Monaco 3-1 FC Nantes = Denis Zakaria (2)

  • Ligue 1 - MD23 : RC Lens 2-3 AS Monaco = Denis Zakaria (3) and Sebastien Pocognoli (1)

🏆 2025-2026 MVP Recap

Second half of the season:

  • Coupe de France - Round-of-32: US Orléans 1-3 AS Monaco = George Ilenikhena (1)

  • Ligue 1 - Matchday 18: AS Monaco 1-3 FC Lorient = Aleksandr Golovin (2)

  • Champions League - Matchday 7 : Real Madrid 6-1 AS Monaco = Jordan Teze (2)

  • Ligue 1 - Matchday 19: Le Havre 0-0 AS Monaco = Kassoum Ouattara (1)

  • Champions League - Matchday 8: AS Monaco 0-0 Juventus Turin = Aleksandr Golovin (2)

  • Ligue 1 - Matchday 20: AS Monaco 4-0 Stade Rennais FC = Denis Zakaria (1)

  • Coupe de France - Round-of-16: RC Strasbourg Alsace 3-1 AS Monaco = Maghnes Akliouche (7)

  • Ligue 1 - Matchday 21: OGC Nice 0-0 AS Monaco = Denis Zakaria (2)

  • Ligue 1 - Matchday 22: AS Monaco 3-1 FC Nantes = Simon Adingra (1)

  • Ligue 1 - Matchday 23: RC Lens 2-3 AS Monaco = Denis Zakaria (3)

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