It was a seventh consecutive victory to close in even further on the podium! Solid in the key moments of the 109th Mediterranean Derby, the AS Monaco players managed to get the better of Olympique de Marseille (2-1). This triumph—secured under the watchful eye of President Dmitry Rybolovlev, who was present at the Stade Louis-II—brings the Monegasques level on points with Les Phocéens and places them just one point behind third-placed LOSC. ✍️
The context 📅
Riding a six-game winning streak in Ligue 1 – the best run in the top five leagues – Monaco hosted Olympique de Marseille with the opportunity to move even closer to the podium. A victory would put them level on points with Marseille, just one point behind third-placed LOSC Lille. The stakes were therefore high in this Mediterranean derby, which Monaco would approach with a vengeance after the heartbreaking 1-0 defeat in the reverse fixture.
We'll be at home against the third-placed team, against whom we lost at the Vélodrome in the reverse fixture despite putting in a good performance. We want to do better than in the first match to try and continue this good run.
Sébastien Pocognoli, in the pre-match press conference
The XI 👥
To kick off this 109th Mediterranean derby, Sébastien Pocognoli maintained his 3-4-2-1 formation with Christian Mawissa playing as a left wing-back. Mamadou Coulibaly, having made his debut for the French U21 team, started alongside Lamine Camara in midfield. Up front, Folarin Balogun, Aleksandr Golovin, and Maghnes Akliouche retained their places.
The scenario 🎞
After a ceremonial kick-off was performed by Usain Bolt, the match came alive from the 10th minute onwards with chances at both ends. First by Maghnes Akliouche, whose left-footed shot went over the bar (10'), then by Hamed Junior Traoré, who was denied by a firm hand from Lukáš Hrádecký (11') and finally by the Monaco MVP of March who lost his one-on-one against Geronimo Rulli (13').
Hrádecký is imperious against Paixao
This Mediterranean derby subsequently lost some of its intensity between two teams unwilling to take risks, although another excellent performance from the Rouge et Blanc goalkeeper saw him win his duel against Paixao (34'). It was therefore logical that halftime came ten minutes later with the score still 0-0.
At the start of the second half, the same scenario played out again, with the Brazilian's long-range shot being saved by the Finnish goalkeeper (49'). Moments later, Folarin Balogun went down in the box, but Mr. Turpin waved play on (51').
Teze with the perfect delivery, and Golo' with the finish!
The Rouge et Blanc were much improved in the second half and were rewarded before the hour mark when Aleksandr Golovin headed home a perfect cross from Jordan Teze with his left foot (1-0, 59'). It was his fifth Ligue 1 goal, incidentally, of the season. We then had to be wary of a Marseille response, with Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg also denied by a superb Lukáš Hrádecký (66') before Quinten Timber also forced a save from distance (72').
"Balogoal" in "Goal of the Year" mode
These proved to be two crucial saves, because two minutes later, Folarin Balogun broke away on the counter-attack and cleverly chipped the ball over Geronimo Rulli to double the lead (2-0, 74'). It was an exceptional goal by the American, who has now scored in each of his last six matches! A third goal almost came close, but Denis Zakaria's shot went just over the bar (83').
A suffocating period of added time
Les Olympiens, however, refused to give up and unfortunately pulled a goal back through Amine Gouiri (2-1, 85'). The end of the match was tense, and the Monaco goalkeeper tipped a Facundo Medina header over the bar for a corner (91'), which Jordan Teze then cleared from in front of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (92'). A second goal was finally within reach again on the counter, but Simon Adingra's shot lacked sufficient power (93').
Relief... and a seventh consecutive win!
These chances were without consequence, as they dug deep to win against Olympique de Marseille for the seventh time in a row in Ligue 1! It had been a real three-point match, once again well managed as it had Lyon before the break, which allows AS Monaco to draw level with the Marseillais, just one point behind Lille, in third place. DAGHE MUNEGU !!!! 🔥🇲🇨
🗓️ Match details:
Sunday, April 5 2026 (20:45) - Stade Louis-II
Ligue 1 McDonald’s - Matchday 28: AS Monaco 2-1 Olympique de Marseille
Halftime: 0-0
Goals: Golovin (59'), Balogun (74') for AS Monaco; Gouiri (85') for Marseille
Bookings: Camara (8'), Kehrer (70') for AS Monaco; Medina (34'), Balerdi (87') for Marseille
AS Monaco: Hradecký - Kehrer, Zakaria ©, Faes, - Teze, Coulibaly (Bamba, 65'), Camara, Mawissa (Diatta, 65') - Akliouche (Adingra, 84'), Golovin (Fati, 76')- Balogun (Biereth, 84')
Substitutes: Köhn, Dier, Bamba, Diatta, Idumbo, Pogba, Adingra, Fati, Biereth
Manager: Sébastien Pocognoli
Marseille : Rulli - Pavard, Egan-Riley (Balerdi, 77'), Medina - Weah (Emerson, 89'), Höjbjerg © (Abdelli, 89'), Timber, Paixao - Gouiri, Aubameyang, Traoré (Nwaneri, 73')
Substitutes: De Lange, Balerdi, Emerson, Abdelli, Nadir, Nnadi, Nwaneri, Vermeeren, Lago
Manager: Habib Beye
