Caught out right at the death, AS Monaco settle for a draw at Le Mans

Travelling to face Le Mans FC on Matchday 10 of Ligue 1 McDonald's, the Red and Whites were held to a draw after conceding a stoppage-time equalizer to the hosts (1-1).

Published on 08/11/2026 at 20:51

Reading time: 8 min.

A deeply frustrating scenario. Although Mamadou Coulibaly had opened the scoring in the first half thanks to a successful press at the feet of the opposing goalkeeper, the Monegasques were unable to double their lead against a Le Mans side that fought back right at the end of the match (1-1). Match report ✍️

The context 📅

Three days after their third straight win in the Conference League league phase against Nordsjælland at the Stade Louis-II (2-0), the Red and Whites travelled to Le Mans aiming to return to winning ways in the league. To do so, they needed to beat a side freshly promoted from the second tier, whom the Principality club had not faced since May 2013 (a 2-1 win in the Principality, which sealed the Ligue 2 title at the time).

"They are a team that presses aggressively when playing high up the pitch, but they also defend very solidly, just as Nordsjælland did. We therefore need to be better in those situations, even though they are also good on the ball. It will be a very demanding match for us, as is always the case in Ligue 1 where every game is very evenly matched, so it will be tough."

Filipe Luís on Le Mans

The lineup 👥

In a bid to bring back all three points, coach Filipe Luís opted for a major rotation, making seven changes to the side that started against the Danish outfit on Thursday night. Vanderson and Flávio Nazinho returned on the flanks, while Sadibou Sané and Eric Dier reformed the central defensive partnership. After scoring his first goal for AS Monaco against the Wild Tigers, Mathys Detourbet retained his place in the starting XI on the left wing, as did Matthis Abline up front.

The scenario 🎞️

In a well-filled Stade Marie-Marvingt—including nearly 700 Red and White supporters—the hosts threatened first and even thought they had opened the scoring, but Louis Mafouta's goal was rightly disallowed as the ball had gone out of play on Dame Gueye's lay-off (5'). Five minutes later, it took a commanding Lukáš Hrádecký to keep out a half-volley from Lucas Buades, who had been picked out by Lucas Calodat at the far post (10').

Two goals disallowed for offside 🤏

After weathering the storm during the opening fifteen minutes, the Monegasques regained control of the ball and created their first chances, such as Lamine Camara's direct corner kick, which Nicolas Kocik tipped just over his crossbar (18').At the end of a fine team move, Matthis Abline also thought he had broken the deadlock, but Aleksandr Golovin was flagged offside in the build-up (21'). The match gathered pace and Dame Gueye headed the ball into the back of the net...only to be ruled offside as well (33').

Madou's winning press 🏃‍♂️

The Sang et Or pushed forward but were caught out by the pressing of Mamadou Coulibaly, who won the ball at the feet of the Le Mans goalkeeper following a heavy touch and simply had to tap it into the empty net (0-1, 40')! The Academy-trained attacking midfielder thus scored his second goal of the season across all competitions. Straight after, the hosts tried to respond, but Dame Gueye's header was comfortably gathered by the Finnish goalkeeper (42'). Although the tempo dropped slightly after the break, the Senegalese striker tried his luck once more following a free kick, only for his effort to end up in the gloves of an alert Lukáš Hrádecký (65').

Caught out in stoppage time ⌚️

Trailing on the scoreboard, Le Mans pushed higher and higher up the pitch, leaving spaces behind. Vanderson came close to doubling the lead, but his volley was parried away to his right by the French goalkeeper (80'). Late in the game, the hosts threw everything forward, and in stoppage time, Erwan Colas fired the ball under the crossbar to equalize from a corner (1-1, 90').

AS Monaco ultimately had to settle for a draw at the Stade Marie-Marvingt ahead of the international break, though they provisionally move up to 6th place. Next league fixture: Saturday, November 21 against Auxerre at the Stade Louis-II (8:45 p.m.). DAGHE MUNEGU! 🇲🇨

The highlights 🎥

5': Mafouta's goal disallowed as the ball had gone out of play in the build-up
10': Buades' half-volley saved by Hrádecký
18': Camara's inswinging corner tipped over his crossbar by Kocik
21': Abline's goal following a fine team move disallowed for an earlier offside against Golovin
33': Gueye's header also disallowed for offside
40': Goal by Coulibaly after pressing Kocik into a mistake (0-1)
42': Gueye's header gathered by the Monegasque goalkeeper
65': Effort from Gueye ends up in the Finnish goalkeeper's gloves
80': Long-range effort from Vanderson parried away by Kocik
90': Goal by Colas following a scramble from a corner (1-1)

The stat 📊

Mamadou Coulibaly scored his fifth goal for Monaco across all competitions, and his fourth in Ligue 1.

🗓️ Match sheet:

Sunday, November 8, 2026 (5:15 p.m.) – Stade Marie-Marvingt

Ligue 1 McDonald's – Matchday 10: Le Mans FC 1-1 AS Monaco

Half-time: 0-1

Goals: Erwan Colas (90') for Le Mans; Mamadou Coulibaly (40') for AS Monaco

Le Mans FC: Kocik – Bamba, Yohou ©, Voyer – Buades (Boissé, 85'), Traoré (Rabillard, 74'), Bretelle, Vercruysse (Kharroubi, 66'), Calodat – Mafouta (Harhouz, 74'), Gueye (Colas, 66')

Substitutes: Hatfout, Boissé, Larouci, Torrente, Lauray, Colas, Harhouz, Kharroubi, Rabillard

Coach: Patrick Videira

AS Monaco: Hrádecký – Vanderson, Sané, Dier, Nazinho (Mawissa, 88') – Camara, Zakaria © – Coulibaly (Teze, 67'),Golovin (Brunner, 54'), Detourbet (Minamino, 54') – Abline (Balogun, 54')

Substitutes: Köhn, Mawissa, Teze, Cabral, Diop, Minamino, Touré, Balogun, Brunner

Coach: Filipe Luís