Stunned by a clinical Stade de Reims AS Monaco, fall at home
It’s a defeat that stings on the resumption of Ligue 1. Pegged back twice a Stade de Reims side who were very sharp on the counter, the AS Monaco players were never able to catch up, and suffered an infuriating defeat on their return to the Stade Louis-II (1-3). ✍️
The context 📅
After reaching the Coupe de France Round of 32 thanks to a gritty win in Lens (2-2, 6-5 penalties), our Rouge et Blanc wanted to start 2024 well in Ligue 1. What’s more, at home, the Principality club had not won against the Champenois since the 2013-2014 season. It was a major challenge facing a side currently eighth in the top flight even if Will Still had to cope without five players who had gone to compete in the African Cup of Nations, and two to the Asian Cup.
The eleven 👥
The same constraints were in place for the Monegasque coach, Adi Hütter, who would have six absences (Camara, Diatta, Jakobs, Minamino, Salisu and Singo). The Austrian manager therefore decided to field the same eleven as the previous weekend, with two exceptions: Philipp Köhn reclaimed his place in goal, and Aleksandr Golovin – voted best player of the season’s first half – alongside Maghnes Akliouche, in support of Wissam Ben Yedder.
The scenario 🎞
Despite the great intensity put into the duels by the 22 players, the match struggled to get going. Only Valentin Atangana for Reims side (2′) and Denis Zakaria (12′) managed to shoot from afar without finding the target. It was finally on a nice opening from Youssouf Fofana that Kassoum Ouattara, decisive in Lens, gave himself a real opportunity but came up against the opposing goalkeeper (18′). It was the same for Golo’, who failed to link up with his captain (19′).
Reims find a breakthrough on the counter
Involved in much of what was good offensively, the Monegasque left wingback then precisely found Wissam Ben Yedder on a gem of a cross, but Yehvann Diouf diverted the volley from our number 10 (22′). The pace dropped slightly, until a rapid transition from Remis, on which Teddy Teuma linked with Mohamed Daramy, before sending a powerful shot under the bar (0-1, 35′). It was a terrible blow for the Monegasques, who returned to the locker room on a one-goal deficit.
𝗠𝗶-𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘀 ⏸️
Surpris sur une des rares offensives adverses, nos Rouge & Blanc sont menés à la pause.
Rendez-vous dans 15 minutes 👊
0️⃣-1⃣ #ASMSDR pic.twitter.com/qhdMUrCEVF
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 13, 2024
Captain’ Wiss gives us hope
At halftime, Adi Hütter decided to go back to two strikers by bringing on the former Reims player, Folarin Balogun. It was a wise choice, since on the first attack from the now more enterprising Monegasques, Wissam Ben Yedder diverted a curling shot from Golovin into goal (1-1, 49′)! The ever-opportunistic, Captain’ Wiss scored his ninth goal of the season in Ligue 1, and it was the Russian playmaker’s third assist.
This satisfaction was short-lived unfortunately, since after a run forward on the right wing, Réda Khadra gives the advantage back to Stade de Reims (1-2). The Rouge et Blanc could even thank Philipp Köhn, who made a big save from the Champagne striker (66′). It was finally on a cross from Vanderson that a reaction was seen, with a header from Fofana tipped over the bar at the last minute by Diouf (69′).
A debut in Ligue 1 pour Cartillier
To try to turn things around, the Austrian technician made two changes, with the entries of Myron Boadu and Antonin Cartillier, making his first appearance in Ligue 1. AS Monaco got a good off-center free kick, which Golovin saw go just over (81′). But once again we need a good read from Philipp Köhn to avoid Bojang scoring a third for Reims (89′).
Un changement pour l'AS Monaco :
🟢 Antonin Cartillier, pour sa première en pro
🔴 Kassoum Ouattara82' | 1⃣-2⃣ #ASMSDR pic.twitter.com/RoDG4cD8dI
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) January 13, 2024
Bounce back in the Coupe de France
Folarin Balogun would have one last opportunity to bring his partners level, but Diouf captured his attempt (94′). Almost immediately thereafter, Reims scored the KO goal by Azor Matusiwa on a quickly played ball (1-3, 95′). What a terrible result It’s over, and the team we will have to react in the Coupe de France in Rodez on Saturday (17:30), before a trip to the Stade Vélodrome.
Key moments 🎥
2′: A powerful strike from Atangana from 25 meters
12′: A long-distance shot from Zakaria is off target
18′: Fofana crosses for Ouattara who comes up short against Diouf
19′: Ben Yedder is found with a long ball and plays in Golovin whose shot is over the bar
22′: A cross by Ouattara for Ben Yedder whose recovery is diverted by Diouf
35′: Teuma links with Daramy in a one-two and sends a shot under the bar (0-1)
49′: Golovin’s curled shot deflected in by Ben Yedder with a header (1-1)
55′: A run from Khadra on the right sees him cut inside and score (1-2)
66′: Köhn makes a big save on a new run by Khadra
68′: A curling strike from Daramy is off target
69′: Fofana’s header is tipped behind for a corner by Diouf
81′: An off-center free kick from Golovin is over the bar
94′: Vanderson finds Balogun who is denied by Diouf
95′: Matusiwa scores the third Reims goal on a quickly played ball (1-3)
📋 Match details:
Saturday, January 13 – Stade Louis-II
Ligue 1 – Matchday 18: AS Monaco 1-3 Stade de Reims
Halftime: 0-1
Goals: Ben Yedder (49′) for AS Monaco; Teuma (35′), Khadra (55′) and Matusiwa (95′) for Reims
Bookings: Magassa (34′), Vanderson (82′) and Ben Yedder (92′) for AS Monaco; De Smet (62′) and Okumu (80′) for Reims
AS Monaco: Köhn – Magassa, Maripán, Kehrer – Vanderson, Zakaria, Fofana (Boadu, 72′), Ouattara (Cartillier, 82′) – Akliouche (Balogun, 46′), Golovin – Ben Yedder ©
Substitutes: Majecki, Cartillier, Matsima, Platret, Coulibaly, Diop, Balogun, Boadu, Efekele
Manager: Adi Hütter
Stade de Reims : Diouf – Foket, Okumu, Agbadou, De Smet – Matusiwa, Atangana (Koné, 46′) – Diakhon (Salama, 57′), Teuma ©, Daramy (Bojang, 87′) – Khadra (Wilson-Esbrand, 78′)
Substitutes: Olliero, Wilson-Esbrand, Tchaptchet, Sangui, Prouchet, Fofana, Koné, Bojang, Salama
Manager: Will Still
