Ligue 1. Monaco surprised by Reims at home
Monaco liquefied against Reims at the very end of the game, after opening the scoring (2-1) Sunday in Ligue 1, chaining a third match without a win, in an afternoon marked by symbolic action against the Russian invasion in Ukraine.
Admittedly, Monaco dominated 99% of the match. Admittedly, Monaco scored a fine goal through Wissam Ben Yedder, in pivot, well served by Sofiane Diop (1-0, 55th). But this 15th goal of the season from the top scorer in L1 was not enough.
Because once again, Monaco did not manage to take shelter. Ben Yedder (58th) and Jean Lucas (67th and 82nd) were unable to score the second goal. And as a result, Philippe Clément’s team was countered.
First, Kevin Volland deflected a free kick from the head against his camp (1-1, 84th). Then, at the very end of the game, the substitute Nathanaël Mbuku, who had already obtained two great opportunities, did not miss the third to give the victory to his team (1-2, 90th+3).
This but allows Reims, 31 points, to see the future with certainty. On the other hand, it almost condemned Monaco, 38 points 8 points from the podium, in its quest for the Champions League next season.
Symbolic action of the Rémois
This match was also marked by a “symbolic” action: the delay of its kick-off, on the initiative of the Reims club, to protest against Russian “acts of war” in Ukraine, according to the president of the club, Jean -Pierre Caillot.
Even if the president of Reims indicated before the meeting that he had no desire to make Monaco “uncomfortable”, the fact remains that the Principality’s club has been reported since January 2013 by the Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev.
For the occasion, Prince Albert also displayed his presence. Like last Friday when Monaco won against Fenerbahçe Istanbul in Euroleague basketball, he was accompanied by his two children, Jacques and Gabriella.
On Friday, the management of the Monegasque basketball club – Aleksej Fedoricsev, the club’s new Russian president, and the Ukrainian Sergeï Dyadechko, vice-president and former president of the club – sat alongside them. This time, it was Oleg Petrov, the Russian vice-president and general manager of the Monegasque club, who was invited to the main stand.
Despite the main presence, Monaco therefore chained a new poor performance. It falls at the worst time, because Monaco travels to Nantes in the semi-final of the Coupe de France on Wednesday, before going to Marseille on Sunday…