Willing but powerless, AS Monaco gives in to Angers

Hampered by a very compact SCO block in centrally throughout the match, the Rouge et Blanc were unable to avoid defeat at the end of their match against Angers (0-1). A frustrating defeat, which will have to be quickly forgotten to turn to Bologna.

Willing but lacking success, the AS Monaco players came up against an Angevin wall and finally lost to SCO (0-1), to start the 10th round of Ligue 1. ✍️

Beaten after going a man down in the Derby (2-1), the Red and White approached this 10th matchday against Angers with the desire to bounce back immediately. A win would see them gain confidence before heading to Bologna, this was the watchword to challenge a team that has just beaten Saint-Etienne, after having drawn against Marseille and Toulouse. We had to be careful!

I have a lot of respect for this SCO team. They have been on a good run recently, having notably drawn against Marseille and Toulouse, before beating Saint-Etienne last weekend. So we must be wary and have respect for this team.

To start this important match, and despite the absence of many key players (Balogun, Salisu, Vanderson, Zakaria), Adi Hütter decided to play a flat offensive 4-4-2, with Krépin Diatta lined up at right back position and Golo’ in the midfield two, while the Embolo – Ilenikhena duo started in attack.

Despite a well-filled Stade Louis-II thanks to the “Tous au stade” activation, the match struggled to get going. We had to wait until the 14th minute to see Jim Allevinah’s first strike for SCO, before an lob  by Ibrahima Niane (22). It was a cold call at the other end though, as former Monaco player Jean-Eudes Aholou senta  powerful shot with the outside of his foot into the top corner (29′, 0-1).

The response from the Red and White was timid on a curling shot from Caio Henrique (37′). Half-time came after a last shot, off target, from El Melali (45+2′). Strengthened at the restart by the entry of Eliesse Ben Seghir, the Monegasques saw Maghnes Akliouche brush Fofana’s right post (47′). Then it was Lamine Camara who at the end of a run saw  the Angevin goalkeeper block his shot with a diving save (67′).

The men of Adi Hütter continued to push, and Breel Embolo asw very close to equalizing on a cutback from Caio Henrique, but Fofana again turned it away (69′). It was the same on a tight cross from Taki’, which the Swiss striker did well to reach but could not put on target (75′). It then took all the vigilance of Radeck Majecki on a quick strike from substitute Esteban Lepaul, to keep the score as it was (82′).

In the meantime, the Austrian technician decided to bring on a young talent from The DiagonalSaïmon Bouabré, to try for an equalizer. Unfortunately, the Red and White could not find the fault, each time coming up short against the Angevin wall. It was game over, AS Monaco had lost and will have to regain confidence on Tuesday away to Bologna, for the 4th round of the Champions League (9 p.m.).

14′: A powerful shot from Allevinah misses the right-hand corner 22′: An attempted lob from Niane is caught by Majecki 29′: A shot from the outside of Aholou’s foot finds the top corner (0-1) 37′: Caio Henrique misses the target with his right foot 47:  Akliouche’s effort from a narrow angle is just wide 59′: Allevinah tries but doesn’t find the target 67′: A shot at the end of a run by Camara us blocked by Fofana 69′: A cutback reaches Embolo who is denied by Fofana 75′: A narrow cross from Minamino finds Embolo but he misses the target 82′: Lepaul’s shot is deflected for a corner by Majecki

Friday November 1 (19:00) – Stade Louis-II

Ligue 1 – Matchday 10: AS Monaco 0-1 Angers SCO