Arnaud Demmerle, Media365, published on Wednesday October 2, 2024 at 11:17 p.m.
AS Monaco has come a long, long way. Trailing by two goals approaching the last quarter of an hour, the Principality club snatched the point of the draw on the pitch of a vengeful Dynamo Zagreb team (2-2). Denis Zakaria’s partners are still undefeated this season.
AS Monaco can breathe a big sigh of relief. The Principality club almost lost in Zagreb against a vengeful Dinamo team after its slap received during the first day of this Champions League against Bayern Munich (9-2). The Croats did not turn the other cheek and would have deserved to win at home as the Asemists were not having a great day and penalized by cataclysmic playing conditions.
Baturina in all the good moves
On a soggy lawn, at the limit of the passable and in torrential rain, ASM has long thwarted and stammered its football with an insufficient state of mind, far from the face displayed against FC Barcelona (2-1) and even since the start of the season. Takumi Minamino certainly harvests a huge opportunity because of poor control (13th), Dinamo Zagreb obtains the best situations. Mohammed Salisu first saves on his line on a messed up ball, following a tense free kick from Martin Baturina (4th). The latter, a real 21-year-old nugget, will be a constant poison for the Monegasques. Technical, clairvoyant and clever, he gains speed on the left Vanderson before serving just before half-time Petar Susic, who eliminates Caio Henrique with a hook before poking his ball over Philipp Köhn for the opening of the ball (1-0, 45th).
The resting entries of Folarin Balogun and George Ilenikhena, respectively in place of Alexandr Golovin and Breel Embolo, change nothing and Martin Baturina continues his recital. At 20 meters, slightly on the right, the Croatian international midfielder took advantage of the apathy of the Monegasque defense to slam a magnificent left shot into the left corner of the Swiss ASM goalkeeper, completely beaten (2-0, 66th).
Zakaria takes responsibility
Close to drowning, Monaco will raise its head with great success. Adi Hütter’s men will reduce the score with a header from Mohammed Salisu, helped by goalkeeper Ivan Nevistic’s slip on a corner from Maghnes Akliouche (2-1, 74th). After a save from Raul Torrente on his line from a point-blank header from Takumi Minamino (88th), the Principality club will finally snatch a draw on a penalty obtained by Falorin Balogun, hooked by the French Maxime Bernauer and transformed, with composure, by Denis Zakaria (2-2, 89th), clearly the best Monegasque since the start of the season.
After the success against FC Barcelona, ASM therefore avoids disillusionment in Croatia. With four points on the clock in two days, they are well within the qualifying time, but will have to capitalize on the next day against Red Star Belgrade, at the Louis II stadium. On condition of finding certain values, because after the narrow victory against Montpellier (2-1) in Ligue 1, this is the second time in a row that it has played with fire. And if she does, she will end up getting burned. On the pitch at Stade Rennais, this Saturday October 5? The danger will be obvious for the Asemists for their third match of the week.
