AS Monaco turn the tide to win against Wolfsburg

After five days of intensive training in Stegersbach, AS Monaco played their fourth preseason match against VFL Wolfsburg this Saturday. For this match, three Academy players had a place from the off in Niko Kovac’s 4-2-3-1 — Benoît Badiashile was in the centre of defense alongside captain Axel Disasi, while Eliot Matazo and Enzo Millot took places in midfield.

Krépin Diatta is decisive

Millot would even make his presence felt as early as the third minute. On a cross from Djibril Sidibé, the Rouge et Blanc number 38 saw his effort come off the post. When the opener finally came, in the 39th minute, it was for VFL Wolfsburg, with center forward Yannick Gerhardt heading home at the near post as Radoslaw Majecki, in goal this afternoon could do nothing about it.

On the hour, the Croatian manager decided to make several changes;  among these was Aleksandr Golovin. The Russian international, returning from his post-Euros vacation, made his first appearance this preseason. But the equalizer would come from Krépin Diatta, who had come on at half-time. His powerful cross surprised Sebastiaan Bornauw, who turned the ball past Pavao Pervan, his own goalkeeper.

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L’égalisation monégasque sur ce CSC de Bornauw, qui tente de dégager le bon centre de Krepin.

1️⃣-2️⃣ #WOBASM pic.twitter.com/Z7Aq7Hu2Dv

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 24, 2021

Three minutes is enough take the lead

Well on their way now, the Rouge et Blanc would  take the lead three minutes later through their Russian international, who would finish perfectly from Willem Geubbels’ cross to the far post. It was a first match and first goal of the preseason for “Golo.”

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Coordination parfaite ! 👀
Le centre tendu de Willem trouve parfaitement le Tsar, qui inscrit le but de la victoire 💥

1️⃣-2️⃣ #WOBASM pic.twitter.com/j3PihjcAGJ

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 24, 2021

The Monegasques then calmly managed the end of the match, never really under threat from Mark Van Bommel’s side. They would win, win two goals to one, for a their third victory in four preseason games. The team’s next match is against Real Sociedad this Wednesday at 6 p.m., the last before the first leg of the third preliminary round of the Champions League.

Match details:

Friendly

VFL Wolfsburg 1-2 AS Monaco 

Halftime: 1-0

Goals: Gerhardt (39′) for VFL Wolfsburg, Bornauw (OG) (65′), Golovin (68′) 

Bookings: Matazo (42′)

VFL Wolfsburg : Casteels (Pervan, 46′) – Lacroix (Bornauw, 46′), Otavio (Roussillon, 46′, Hernandez Foster, 82′), Steffen (Nmecha, 71′), Philipp (Mehmedi, 71′), Baku (Beifus, 63′), Guilavogui, Brooks (Pongracic, 63′), Gerhardt (Schlager, 63′), Ginczek (Weghorst, 63′), Victor (Marmoush, 46′, Brekalo, 79′)

Substitutes: Pervan, Klinger,  Bornauw, Roussillon, Pongracic, Beifus, Hernandez Foster, Brekalo, Mehmedi, Garcia MacNulty, Schlager, Rexhbecaj, Weghorst, Nmecha, Marmoush, Stefaniak

Manager: Mark Van Bommel

AS Monaco : Majecki – Sidibé (Aguilar, 60′), Disasi (Matsima, 60′), Badiashile (Pavlovic, 60′), Caio Henrique (Jakobs, 60′) – Tchouameni (Fofana 11′, Akliouche, 74′), Matazo (Lemarechal, 60′), – Gelson Martins (Diatta, 46′, Biancone, 74′), Fàbregas (Golovin, 60′), Millot (Geubbels, 46′) – Isidor (Musaba, 60′)

Substitutes: Mannone, Aguilar, Biancone, Jakobs, Matsima, Pavlovic, Akliouche, Diatta, Fofana, Golovin, Lemarechal, Geubbels, Musaba

Manager: Niko Kovac