Akliouche sees double, Brest sinks… The tops/flops

TOPS

Akliouche sees double

His magical duo with Ben Seghir continues to delight AS Monaco. Maghnes Akliouche, 22 years old, is establishing himself day by day as a key player in the principality's club. Against Brest, the international hopeful set the game on fire from the start of the match. At the start and at the conclusion to score his first league goal of the season in the 5th minute. Destiny then stood against him, untenable, the post deprived him of the double three minutes later to the delight of Bizot beaten by his clear shot. In the second half, Akliouche spared no effort behind to keep the score. As a symbol, at the end of the match, he sealed his team's success with a fantastic spiked ball to score a double (90+1).

Golovin finds his feet

Often bothered by injuries and in full competition with the Japanese Minamino, Aleksandr Golovin must take advantage of his minutes of play to score points. Against Brest he did it. Good in small spaces, his splits with Ben Seghir and Akliouche hurt the Breton defense. Comfortable with the ball at his feet, he contributed to the washout of his opponents for 45 minutes. True to himself, he was also decisive and sharp. On a recovery error from Fernandes, the Russian international inherited the ball to convert it in the best possible way. A low strike for which he has the secret, unstoppable for Bizot.

FLOPS

Brest can no longer do it in Ligue 1

The weeks follow one another and are similar for Brest. Heroic performances in the Champions League but less good results in the league. Against Monaco, the Finisterians did not deviate from this rule. Washed out and manhandled throughout the first period, Eric Roy's men could count themselves happy to return to their locker room with (only) two goals behind. Vengeful from the start of the second half, the enthusiasm of the “Pirates” was not enough. Against Monaco, Brest conceded its third consecutive defeat in Ligue 1 (after Nice and Montpellier). In 12 matches, the Bretons are 12th with 13 points, but could go lower with the matches of their direct competitor. Saint-Étienne barrage is only three points behind the Reds and Whites.

Lees-Melou returns to the infirmary

Beyond a flop, it’s above all a big blow for Stade Brestois. Victim of a fractured fibula last May, Pierre Lees-Melou missed many months of competition. Noted for its return with a sumptuous and important goal against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, the Habs are doing Brest good on and off the field.

Against Monaco, in the 17th minute, he complained of pain in his right calf. After three minutes of “test”, he finally collapsed and had to give way to Edimilson Fernandes (20th). Additional blow, barely coming into play, his replacement offered a goal to Golovin by completely missing his restart (24th). In the second period, Lees-Melou was seen on crutches on the bench, his presence against FC Barcelona this Tuesday in the Champions League seems impossible.