RED STAR MONACO HERITAGE # 2
171221at 10:01 am
On the occasion of the 32nd final of the Coupe de France against Monaco, redstar.fr looks back on the significant confrontations between the two clubs.
Place in the second episode, with two decisive meetings for the maintenance of the two teams in the elite of French football.
1968-69 SEASON
During the 1968-69 season, Audoniens and Monegasques played in the elite of French football. After a 1-1 draw in the first leg, the two teams meet for the 26th matchday, April 13, 1969. A meeting under high tension between two teams which have their place in the elite. .
In addition, the Audoniens are far from being confident after the slap received in Bordeaux the previous weekend, while the Monegasques have somewhat recovered their smile with a 2-0 victory against Bastia during the previous day. The context of the two teams in the standings makes this poster a real shock in the race for maintenance, with points that are worth very dear.
As in the last match played in Bauer against Monaco, the start of the second half will smile on Audonians. At the 55th minute, the midfielder Phillipe Le Donche will make the difference, allowing the Red Star to take the lead shortly before the hour mark. Then, the Audonian defense will hold on, repelling the few timid Monegasque assaults. Georges Taillepierre, scorer against ASM during the 1965-1966 season and playing that day as a defender, will show a saving fighting spirit to curb Asemist attacks (see photo). The latter will also be widely considered to have been the best element on the pitch during the meeting.
Thanks to the realization of Le Donche, the Audoniens pocket two precious points in the race to maintain. With this victory, the Red Star gains two places in the standings while ASM remains dead last. Two months later, the Audoniens will complete the season at the 15th place, while the Monegasques will finish 17th and barrage, before losing against Angoulême, thus condemning the club to relegation to Ligue 2.
SEASON 1971-72
After two seasons spent in the second division, AS Monaco returned to the elite of French football during the 1971-1972 season. A return to the foreground which gives rise to two new confrontations against the Red Star. In the first leg, played in the 4th day in the Monegasque city, the two teams parted with a zero and blank score. Monegasques and Audoniens meet for the return match in Saint-Ouen, January 30, 1972, on behalf of the 22th daytime.
At that time, AS Monaco is again in bad shape, pointing at the 19th place, 4 points behind the Audoniens, who occupy the 16th rang. This clash between ASM and the Red Star is once again a shock at the bottom of the table, between two teams needing points in their fight for maintenance.
This meeting begins in the freezing cold of Paris. Fortunately, the scenario of the match will quickly warm up the 3,500 Audonian spectators present at Bauer. From the 6th minute, Garcia heads a superb cross from Garrigues to give the advantage to the Red Star. In the second half, the two teams come back with better intentions, with much more aggressiveness on both sides, failing to show any finish. Twice, the Red Star will be denied goals for offside, from Gondet in the 50th minute then Guéniche, at the very end of the match. In the end, there will be no other achievement during this meeting, and Garcia’s early opening scoring was enough for the Audonians to resume with victory. A decisive but scored by an equally important player. Bernard Garcia will have worn the Audonian jersey 113 times before passing away this year. The Red Star pays homage to one of its stars.
This victory allows the Red Star to breathe a little at the bottom of the table, regaining 4 points ahead of his opponent of the day. At the end of the season, the Audoniens will save their place in the top flight thanks to a 17th place, while the Monegasques will return to Ligue 2, finishing penultimate in the first division.
Credit: Personal collection of Gilles Saillant