They were the two key players in Monaco's victory against Marseille. Combative from start to finish, much like the AS Monaco team itself, which showed patience to make the difference in the clash against OM (2-1), Lukáš Hrádecký and Folarin Balogun were rewarded. The Finnish goalkeeper even achieved a double, winning the MVP award for the match and being named to the Ligue 1 Team of the Week for Matchday 28.

The one-on-one man 🚧

With seven saves in total this match, his highest tally since the first leg at the Vélodrome (6), the Monaco goalkeeper proved decisive as early as the 11th minute, winning a one-on-one against Hamed Junior Traoré. He repeated this feat half an hour later, making another firm save against Paixao (35')! It was a top-class performance that continued after the break.

He made some important saves, so in the end he was decisive. I think a goalkeeper who's key to achieving good results contributes 4, 5, or 6 points at the end of the season. In any case, he made his contribution today.

Sébastien Pocognoli, on Lukáš Hrádecký

Big saves at crucial moments 🧤

Just after Aleksandr Golovin's magnificent opening goal, Monaco's number 1 was alert once again to a curling shot from his Brazilian opponent (62'). Then he was called into action again to save a sudden strike from Marseille's captain, Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg (66')! The match was heating up, and Lukáš once again proved imperious, denying Quinten Timber's powerful shot moments later (72').

A double MVP + in L’Équipe's Team of the Week 🏆

And even though he could do little about Amine Gouiri's goal to reduce the deficit (2-1, 85th minute), he secured the three points for Monaco with a last-gasp save following a header from Facundo Medina (91'). It was therefore quite logical that he was awarded the MVP title by the Rouge et Blanc fans on the AS Monaco App with 75% of the votes, as well as a place in the Ligue 1 Team of the Week for Matchday 28, receiving a… 7!

But he was not alone, since the second goalscorer of the match, Folarin Balogun, who scored a sublime lob over Geronimo Rulli (2-0, 74') and displayed incredible energy (11 duels, 1 interception), also took his place up front! It's unsurprising for someone who just scored his 10th goal of the season in the top flight against OM, striking for the sixth time in a row in the league.

It's one of my best goals, yes, especially since its importance makes it even more special. We're in good form and I'm very happy with this victory.

Folarin Balogun, on his incredible goal

It's no surprise, then, to find him in second place in the MVP voting for this clash won by the men from Monaco. Well done, guys! 👏

  1. Ligue 1 - Matchday 1: AS Monaco 3-1 Le Havre = Maghnes Akliouche (1)
  2. Ligue 1 - Matchday 3: AS Monaco 3-2 RC Strasbourg = Folarin Balogun (1)
  3. Ligue 1 - Matchday 4: AJ Auxerre 1-2 AS Monaco = Vanderson (1)
  4. Ligue 1 - Matchday 5: AS Monaco 5-2 FC Metz = Ansu Fati (1)
  5. Ligue 1 - Matchday 10: FC Nantes 3-5 AS Monaco = Maghnes Akliouche (2) and Mamadou Coulibaly (1)
  6. Ligue 1 - Matchday 14: AS Monaco 1-0 Paris Saint-Germain = Mohammed Salisu (1)
  7. Ligue 1 - Matchday 16: Olympique de Marseille 1-0 AS Monaco = Thilo Kehrer (1)
  8. Ligue 1 - Matchday 20: AS Monaco 4-0 Stade Rennais = Maghnes Akliouche (3), Mamadou Coulibaly (2), Denis Zakaria (1) and AS Monaco (1)
  9. Ligue 1 - Matchday 22: AS Monaco 3-1 FC Nantes = Denis Zakaria (2)
  10. Ligue 1 - Matchday 23: RC Lens 2-3 AS Monaco = Denis Zakaria (3) and Sebastien Pocognoli (1)
  11. Ligue 1 - Matchday 25: Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 AS Monaco = Philipp Köhn (1), Thilo Kehrer (2), Folarin Balogun (2), Sébastien Pocognoli (2) and AS Monaco (2)
  12. Ligue 1 - Matchday 27: Olympique Lyonnais 1-2 AS Monaco = Maghnes Akliouche (4)
  13. Ligue 1 - Matchday 28: AS Monaco 2-1 Olympique de Marseille = Lukáš Hrádecký (1) and Folarin Balogun (3)

2025-26 MVP Recap

Second half:

  1. Coupe de France - Round of 32: US Orléans 1-3 AS Monaco = George Ilenikhena (1)
  2. Ligue 1 - Matchday 18: AS Monaco 1-3 FC Lorient = Aleksandr Golovin (2)
  3. Champions League - Matchday 7: Real Madrid 6-1 AS Monaco = Jordan Teze (2)
  4. Ligue 1 - Matchday 19: Le Havre 0-0 AS Monaco = Kassoum Ouattara (1)
  5. Champions League - Matchday 8: AS Monaco 0-0 Juventus = Aleksandr Golovin (2)
  6. Ligue 1 - Matchday 20: AS Monaco 4-0 Stade Rennais FC = Denis Zakaria (1)
  7. Coupe de France - Round of 16: RC Strasbourg Alsace 3-1 AS Monaco = Maghnes Akliouche (7)
  8. Ligue 1 - Matchday 21: OGC Nice 0-0 AS Monaco = Denis Zakaria (2) 1 - Matchday 22: AS Monaco 3-1 FC Nantes = Simon Adingra (1)
  9. Champions League - Play-off First Leg: AS Monaco 2-3 Paris Saint-Germain = Folarin Balogun (4)
  10. Ligue 1 - Matchday 23: RC Lens 2-3 AS Monaco = Denis Zakaria (3)
  11. Champions League - Play-off Second Leg: Paris Saint-Germain 2-2 AS Monaco = Maghnes Akliouche (8)
  12. Ligue 1 - Matchday 24: AS Monaco 2-0 Angers SCO = Denis Zakaria (4)
  13. Ligue 1 - Matchday 25: Paris Saint-Germain 1-3 AS Monaco = Lamine Camara (2)
  14. Ligue 1 - Matchday 26: AS Monaco 2-0 Brest = Aleksandr Golovin (3)
  15. Ligue 1 - Matchday 27: Olympique Lyonnais 1-2 AS Monaco = Maghnes Akliouche (9)
  16. Ligue 1 - Matchday 28 : AS Monaco 2-1 Olympique de Marseille = Lukáš Hrádecký (1)

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