Despite being clinical, AS Monaco concede a frustrating draw in Nantes

A frustrating result. Despite a great burst of energy and after being ahead by two goals in the first half, the AS Monaco players saw FC Nantes, who qualified for the final of the Coupe de France this week, come from behind to grab a draw (2-2). It was a point which allows the team, despite everything, to move six points ahead of the fifth place side in Ligue 1. ✍️

The context 📅

To build on their two wins in Ligue 1, in Ajaccio before the international break (0-2) and against Strasbourg last Sunday (4-3), the Rouge et Blanc had to go to Nantes. With previous defeats for Lille and Rennes, the Monegasques could take an eight-point lead over fifth place with a victory.

The eleven 👥

There were two changes to note in the eleven set out by Philippe Clement compared to the side that won against the Alsatians, with the return of Krépin Diatta on the wing, and the absence of Ruben Aguilar at the back. Eliot Matazo, who spoke at the press conference on Friday, started alongside Mohamed Camara, in place of the suspended Youssouf Fofana in midfield.

👥 Le 𝗫𝗜 𝗱𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 monégasque 🆚 @FCNantes

‣ #FCNASM pic.twitter.com/xYFeGA5E19

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) April 9, 2023

The scenario 🎞

The first minutes were cautious from both teams, with more than 400 Monegasque fans in the away end at La Beaujoire. Les Canaris had chances from set pieces which did not result anything, even on a direct corner from Florent Mollet (20′). Shortly thereafter, though it would be a certain Axel Disasi who opened the scoring on a brilliantly taken corner by Caio Henrique (0-1, 21′)!

Doubling the lead on another pass from “Caviar” Henrique!

It was a sublime finish for the vice-captain of AS Monaco, who scored his eighth career goal in Ligue 1, his sixth from a corner and the third this season. For his part, the Brazilian recorded his 8th assist. This was before doing it again, and again on a corner, from which Eliot Matazo put the ball into the Nantes goal (0-2, 30′)! The Academy-trained midfielder benefitted from the ninth pass by the left back in the top flight this season..

Second 45 underway ⏱️#FCNASM pic.twitter.com/nkefS9TjHO

— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 9, 2023

So close to a killer blow…

Two attempts from a tight angle by Krépin Diatta (38′) then Vanderson (43′) were even close to giving the Rouge et Blanc a three-goal lead. But AS Monaco returned to the locker room with a two-goal lead. The second half started just as lively as the first had ended with attempts from Ben Yedder (50′), Ben Seghir (52′) and Diatta (53′), all of which were stopped by Alban Lafont.

Nantes turn the tide

Unfortunately Nantes pushed hard and managed to score themselves on a header by Mostafa Mohamed, on a corner that the substitute had himself won (1-2, 65′). The answer is immediate and it was the work of Aleksandr Golovin on a cross from Krépin Diatta (67′). But Alban Lafont saved with his opposite hand, and then kept ut Wissam Ben Yedder’s attempt, which was deflected behind for a corner by Andrei Girotto (72′).

78' Goal. Nantes.

2️⃣-2️⃣ #FCNASM | @Ligue1_ENG

— AS Monaco EN (@AS_Monaco_EN) April 9, 2023

A frustrating draw

He then captured a strong header by Axel Disasi in stride (73′). It was then a hard blow as Ludovic Blas also equalized in the air, putting in a cross from Quentin Merlin at the far post (2-2, 78′). The 22 players threw all their energy into the last moments to change the outcome of the game again, but the Monegasque captain would only see his shot blocked by Casteletto (89′).

That’s how it finished at the Stade Beaujoire, in a frustrating draw given the scenario of the first half, but one which still allows Lille, fifth, to slip six points back in the table. The team’s next match is Sunday at the Stade Louis-II against Lorient (5:05 p.m.).

Key moments 🎥

• 20′: A shot from a corner by Mollet does not deceive Alex Nübel, who remains vigilant
• 21′: A corner taken by Caio Henrique results in the first goal, a powerful strike from Axel Disasi just under the bar (0-1)
• 30′: The Brazilian does it again by picking out Eliot Matazo who taps the ball into an empty goal (0-2)
• 38′: A shot from the left at a tight angle for Diatta is kept out by Lafont
• 43′: Vanderson gets on the end of a cross by Golovin at the far post, but it is blocked
• 50′: A three-man game leads to a cross by Henrique for Ben Yedder but is effort is stopped
• 52′: A long shot by Ben Seghir is stopped by Lafont
• 54′: Diatta’s strike from the left is captured by Lafont
• 65′: On a corner won by himself, Mohamed rises for a header and scores (1-2)
• 67′: Golovin shoots after a cross by Diatta, it’s put behind by Lafont for a corner
• 72′: Ben Yedder dribbles past Lafont and shoots but Girotto clears the line
• 78′: Blas equalizes with a header at the far post on a cross from Merlin (2-2)
• 89′: A strike by Ben Yedder is blocked by Casteletto

The stat 📊

Caio Henrique has 6 assists from set pieces in Ligue 1 in 2022-2023 (4 from a corner, 2 from an indirect free kick), more than any other player in the European Top 5 leagues this season. The Brazilian left back is the first AS Monaco player to have managed to have two assists in the league since… himself against Lyon on September 11, 2022 (also 2). The Rouge et Blanc  have now scored ten goals from corners in the top flight this season. No other team has done better (ten also for Brest and Marseille before their match against Lorient).

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Match details

Sunday, April 9 – Stade de La Beaujoire

Ligue 1 – Matchday 30: FC Nantes 2-2 AS Monaco 

Halftime: 0-2

Goals: Mohamed (65′), Blas (78′) for Nantes; Disasi (21′), Matazo (30′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Girotto (56′), Corchia (62′), Blas (79′) for Nantes; Volland (87′) for AS Monaco

FC Nantes: Lafont © – Centonze, Castelletto, Girotto, Corchia – Moutoussamy, Sissoko – Guessand (Ganago, 59′), Mollet (Blas (59′), Moses – Delort (Mohamed, 59′)

Substitutes: Petric, Diaz, Traoré, Blas, Doucet, Merlin, Coco, Ganago, Mohamed

Manager: Antoine Kombouaré

AS Monaco: Nübel – Vanderson, Disasi, Maripán (Matsima, 83′), C.Henrique – Matazo, Camara (Magassa, 83′) – Diatta, Ben Seghir (Volland, 70′), Golovin (Jakobs, 80′) – Ben Yedder ©

Substitutes: Didillon, Jakobs, Matsima, Akliouche, Diop, Magassa, Minamino, Boadu, Volland

Manager: Philippe Clement