AS Monaco defeated but still in the process of qualifying
Dominating much of the game, the Red & Whites fell on an impassable Anatoliy Trubin in Ukrainian goals. They bow to the smallest of the marks (0-1), but keep all their chances before the return scheduled for August 25 in Ukraine.
First round of the jump-off between AS Monaco and Shakhtar Donetsk at the Stade Louis-II. And it was unfortunately won by the Ukrainians (0-1). Despite this defeat, the Red and Whites remain in the process of joining the group stage of the Champions League. For this match, Niko Kovac aligned his traditional 4-4-2 with the duo Yedderland in front. Note also the first minutes of this season of Guillermo Maripán and Radoslasw Majecki, tenured in the absence of Alexander Nübel.
A nice reaction despite the opening of the score
It is also the Monegasque goalkeeper who meets in evidence first by pushing back for a corner a shot from Matviyenko on his right (7th). However, he can do nothing in the 19th minute when Pedrinho infiltrates the box after eliminating three Monegasque players, for the Ukrainians’ opener. A goal in the image of this team: very clean technically.
After this but, the Monegasques reacted. First on a corner by Benoît Badiashile, but the central defender uncrossed his head too much (23rd). Then in quick succession by Wissam Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland. If the French saw his shot repelled by Trubin (25th), the head of the German passed narrowly (26th). Shortly before half-time, Aurélien Tchouameni’s curl was also taken out for a corner by the Donetsk goalkeeper.
⌚️44 ‘The strike of @atchouameni !! Come on guys !!#ASMShakhtar | #RoadToChampions
0⃣-1⃣
– AS Monaco (@AS_Monaco) August 17, 2021
The impassable Ukrainian doorman
The Ukrainian goalkeeper is definitely very good in this part, like these two new stops against Aleksandr Golovin (48th) on a new roll and against the Monegasque captain eight minutes later, pushing back a strike with the right foot. Decidedly impassable, he pushes back on his post, and with the tips of the gloves, a fine attempt by Myron Boadu, who came into play a few minutes earlier instead of Wissam Ben Yedder.
Niko Kovac’s men push at the end of the match to equalize but ultimately lose 1-0 in this first leg. Nothing crippling before the return match since they keep all their chances of turning things around next week in Ukraine, in Kharkiv. Before that, they will face the Racing Club de Lens on Saturday at 5 pm, on behalf of the third day of Ligue 1. With the aim: a first success in the league.
The match sheet
Champions League – Play-offs First leg
AS Monaco 0-1 Shakhtar Donetsk
Half-time: 0-1
Corn : Pedrinho (19th) for Shakhtar Donetsk
Yellow cards: Stepanenko (88th), Alan Patrick (90th) for Shakhtar Donetsk
AS Monaco: Majecki – Sidibé, Maripán, Badiashile, C. Henrique – Gelson Martins (Diatta, 67th), Tchouameni, Fofana (Jean Lucas, 46th), Golovin (Diop, 60th) – Volland, Ben Yedder © (Boadu, 67th)
Substitutes: Mannone, Disasi, Jakobs, Pavlovic, Aguilar, Fabregas, Jean Lucas, Matazo, Diatta, Diop, Boadu, Isidor
Coach: Niko Kovac
Shakhtar Donetsk: Trubin – Dodo, Vitao, Marlon, Matviyenko – Maycon (Stepanenko, 74th), Marcos Antonio – Tetê (Marlos, 89th), Pedrinho (Alan Patrick, 46th), Solomon (Konoplyanka, 66th) – Traoré (Sikan, 89th)
Substitutes: Pyatov, Kryvtsov, Stepanenko, Dentinho, Marlos, Mudryk, Alan Patrick, Konoplia, Ismaily, Korniienko, Sikan, Konoplyanka
Coach: Roberto De Zerbi