AS Monaco fall to Leverkusen on penalties

How cruel! Ahead after winning the first leg 3-2 in Germany, theRouge et Blanc were unable to keep this advantage and were forced into a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, as against Rodez in the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France, this exercise did not go well for them and they exited the competition in the Round of 32.

Winners of the first leg in a wild encounter, thanks to a  goal by Axel Disasi (3-2) at the very end of the match, theRouge et Blancapproached the return leg against Bayer Leverkusen with a small lead on qualification. Their single objective, was to keep and reach the round of 16 of the competition, as they had last season.

For this second leg of the Europa Round of 32, Philippe Clement decided to keep faith in the 4-2-3-1 system he has used in recent weeks, with very few alterations compared to the victory  in Brest Sunday (2-1), with only Mohamed Camara coming back into the eleven. To this end, Chrislain Matsima, very impressive in his return to AS Monaco, once again started at rightback, as did Malang Sarr in central defense.

This return leg started as the first leg had ended: at a high pace. Wissam Ben Yedder was quick to get involved but overhit his initial effort (4'). A response from Bayer came quickly, through Amine Adli who saw his shot kept out by Alexander Nübel (11'). The Germans finally opened the scoring two minutes later as Florian Wirtz finished from close range (13').

This goal conceded did not worry AS Monaco, who reacted through Eliesse Ben Seghir. Played in by his captain, he was brought down in the area by Edmond Tabsoba and obtained a deserved penalty (18'). Wissam Ben Yedder did not hesitate and left Lukas Hradecky on the wrong foot for his 93rd goal for the Club (19').

This joy was short-lived, however, since Bayer Leverkusen took the lead only two minutes later through Exequeil Palacios, who tapped home on a second ball following a corner (21'). The match then dropped in intensity, with both sides committing numerous fouls. Alexander Nübel had to nevertheless be vigilant on a powerful strike from Adam Hlozek from 25 meters to deflect it behind for a corner with a firm hand (34').

The second period started in similar fashion,  with the Germans having most of the ball. And it was on a long spell of possession that they scored a third time through Amine Adli with an unstoppable header across goal (58'). As in the first period, theRouge et Blanchad a reaction and this one came from Wissam Ben Yedder.

On a long deep ball, he entered the area, and turned his marker before unleashing a powerful shot from the right which smashed off the crossbar (60'). Then Eliesse Ben Seghir, free on a cutback by Edan Diop, who came on in his first official match as a professional, failed to beat Lukas Hradecky (71'). But deliverance came in the 84th minute from Breel Embolo, with a header finding the back of the net (84').

The Swiss striker had put the two teams  level over the tie and AS Monaco thought they had equalized through Edan Diop (90 + 3'). Except that the ball had unfortunately come out beforehand in the area. It was 3-2 for Bayer Leverkusen in this return leg after 90 minutes and we headed to extra time.

And it was Xabi Alonso's men who created the first chance for themselves through Mitchell Bakker who was denied by Alexander Nübel (93rd). Dominant in front of 300 Italian and French children present in thePésage stand, theRouge et Blancpushed to make the difference and Kevin Volland came close to sealing qualification but his header was punched clear by Lukas Hradecky (118').

There were no goals to report, so it was on penalties that this double legged tie would be determined. And as in the Round of 64 of the Coupe de France against Rodez in January, AS Monaco lacked success in this exercise, with Eliot Matazo hitting the bar. For their part, Bayer Leverkusen were full of efficiency and did not miss any penalties.

Consequently, theRouge et Blanclost 5-3 in the shootout and exited the Europa League at the stage of the round of 32. We will have to bounce back on Sunday (5:05 p.m.), again at the Stade Louis-II, in the Derby against OGC Nice, for the 25th round of Ligue 1. Daghe!

4': Wissam Ben Yedder overhits his effort
11': A big save by Alex Nübel who keeps a shot from Amine Adli out of his top corner13': Florian Wirtz opens the scoring (0-1)
18': Penalty won by Eliesse Ben Seghir...19': And converted by Wissam Ben Yedder (1-1)21': The second Bayer goal is scored by Exequiel Palacios (1-2)
34': A powerful attempt by Hlozek is tipped behind for a corner by Nübel58': Goal by Amine Adli with a header across goal (1-3)
60': A strike by Ben Yedder comes off the crossbar
71': Hradecky denies Ben Seghir84: Breel Embolo's header levels the tie on aggregate (2-3)
90 + 3': Diop is denied a late equaliser
93': Nübel saves with his feet to keep out Bakker
118': A header by Volland is repelled by Hradecky

Thursday, February 23 – Stade Louis-II
Europa League – Round of 32 Second Leg: AS Monaco 2-3 (3-5 penalties) Bayer Leverkusen
Halftime: 1-2
Goals: Ben Yedder (19'), Embolo (84') for AS Monaco; Wirtz (13'), Palacios (21'), Adli (58') for Bayer Leverkusen
Bookings: Fofana (41') for AS Monaco, C. Henrique (119'), Jakobs (120+1'); Andrich (65'), Palacios (99') for Bayer
AS Monaco: Nübel – Matsima (Diop, 61'), Disasi, Sarr, C. Henrique – Fofana, Camara (Matazo, 70') – Diatta (Volland, 110'), Ben Seghir (Jakobs, 78'), Golovin (Boadu, 78') – Ben Yedder © (Embolo, 78')
Substitutes: Didillon, Jakobs, Okou, Akliouche, Diop, Magassa, Gelson Martins, Matazo, Minamino, Boadu, Embolo, Volland
Manager: Philippe Clement
Bayer Leverkusen: Hradecky © - Tapsoba, Tah, Hincapie - Frimpong (Diaby, 103'), Palacios, Andrich, Bakker - Adli (Amiri, 74'), Hlozek (Schick, 70'), Wirtz (Azmoun, 115')
Substitutes: Lomb, Pentz, Fosu-Mensah, Kossounou, Azhil, Bellarabi, Demirbay, Hudson-Odoi, Azmoun, Diaby, Schick
Manager: Xabi Alonso