Monaco comes from afar and holds Nantes at the end of a crazy match

Two months ago, we would probably have talked about a clash of worlds between Nantes and Monaco, as the gap seemed so vast between the two teams. When Kombouaré knew his future was built on sand after the repeated football mishaps of his team, the Monegasques, for their part, unfolded their meetings like the reel of a scenario. We will not go so far as to say that the two clubs have today truncated their dynamics, but the gap has more than narrowed, and it is the law of the field which confirmed it this evening. In Nantes, where they have not won for 4 years, Adi Hütter’s players showed two faces, but they fortunately relied on their talents and their character to limit the damage and leave with a point (2 -2).

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However, their start to the meeting suggested the worst. From the 10th minute of play, Simon already warned Köhn by taking advantage of Monegasque laxity on a back cross from Thomas. It was in the same configuration that the Swiss goalkeeper was going to bow this time… a minute later. Upon receiving a cross from Thomas, Abline deceived the Swiss goalkeeper by crossing his shot without thinking (11th, 1-0). The biggest situations of this first period were also to the credit of the people of Nantes, much more inspired and united than their opponents. Lepenant fired a shot narrowly deflected into a corner (22nd), when Simon sowed fear with his attacks on the left. Opposite, the young Bouabré often displayed his qualities in disorder for his first tenure, when Embolo shone more for his clumsiness than for his goals. The biggest situation for the visitors was a strike from Lamine Camara from 25 meters, which Anthony Lopes used perfectly (24th).

Monaco has awakened resources that have been asleep for several weeks

At the break, the raw result probably suited the Nantes supporters, who were also unleashed against the LFP for the occasion, but a little more was still needed to satisfy an appetite for spectacle. There was no need to say more to Kevin Amian, who scored less than 120 seconds after the start of the second half. The 26-year-old defender headed a cross from Thomas, decidedly untenable, to beat Köhn (47th, 2-0). But if we thought Monaco were defeated, we were wrong, as Hütter’s players surprised us with their character and solidarity in the second half. Five minutes later, Embolo reduced the gap when receiving a cross from Singo. The Swiss got the upper hand on Pallois and adjusted Lopes perfectly. This same Lopes impeccable so far, but who was completely stranded on Salisu’s equalizer (60th). The Portuguese misinterpreted the trajectory of Camara’s cross from a corner, and noticed the damage.

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The meeting was more uncertain than ever, but also more disjointed than ever. At first we thought Monaco was turning the tables, but Vanderson completely missed his left-footed shot when receiving a cross, before hitting the post (75th). Ben Seghir couldn’t find the target (76th) while Pallois stopped time with a miraculous save from an Embolo shot from close range. Even the Nantes defender was incredulous about the action. It was then Moses Simon’s turn to shine, and we thought the Nigerian would make the decision with a superb feat on the left, but his shot smashed Köhn’s bar (83rd). At the end of the spectacular match, no one was able to turn the success to their side and everyone left at 2-2. In the ranking, Monaco remains 3rd while Nantes is 14th.