5 years ago, to the day, at Louis-II…
This April 19 is not a date like the others, at least not for AS Monaco and its supporters. Here is the summary of a match, but especially of a European exploit of the ASM.
After having evoked the unforgettable success against Real Madrid (April 6), this Tuesday April 19 is also a date forever etched in the memories of Monegasque football.
We are in April 2017. AS Monaco received the Borussia Dortmund by Thomas Tuchel, at the Stade Louis-II, in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. After having eliminated by surprise the club of Manchester City trained by Pep Guardiola (6-6 combined), the ASM of Leonard Jardim wanted to strike again, in front of his home crowd, especially after a fairly tense first leg.
Mbappé, the revelation
In Germany, a certain Kylian Mbappestill unknown to the general public, had marked the spirits thanks to a superb double. This allowed the Monegasques to win (3-2) at Iduna Park. What put the group in confidence, a few days before finding this same Dortmund team, at the Stade Louis-II.
D-Day has arrived. The red-and-white-hearted supporters hope to see their team create another feat in this European campaign. In a sold-out stadiumand in a phenomenal atmosphere, the Monaco team faces the yellow and black ogre.
The Monegasque show
And it didn’t take long to see the future tricolor world champion at work. From the 3rd minute, Mbappé scores after a good attempt by Benjamin Mendy, initially repelled by Roman Bürki. The Monegasque striker proves once again that he is an outstanding finisher, especially given his statistics.
?????? @KMbappe has scored 16 goals in his last 16 games!!! #Hallucinating #ASMBVB pic.twitter.com/T0iHnFTsaK
— AS Monaco ????????? (@AS_Monaco) April 20, 2017
The show continues with Radamel Falcao (17th). The Colombian international is at the conclusion of a magnificent collective sequence of Monegasques. His header leaves the Borussia goalkeeper no chance.
?????? The action of school on the 2nd but Monegasque magnificently concluded from the head by @FALCAO !!!! #ASMBVB pic.twitter.com/PJVf9WiUZX
— AS Monaco ????????? (@AS_Monaco) April 20, 2017
At halftime, the score was 2-0 (5-2 aggregate) in favor of ASM. Supporters are already beginning to smell the sweet scent of qualifying for the C1 semi-finals… at least until the gap is closed. Marco Reus.
Three minutes after returning from the locker room, the German international, on a good combination with Ousmane Dembélé, comes to deceive Danijel Subasic at the first post, and restarts the game (2-1, 48th).
Germain for the end
After this bad blow, a known Valere Germain put an end to German hopes, nine minutes from the end. On a cross from Thomas Lemar, the future Montpellier player, who came into play a few seconds earlier, won his duel against the goalkeeper and brought the score to 3-1 (6-3 aggregate).
?????? It only took 22 seconds to @ValereGermain to deliver a whole stadium… #ASMBVB pic.twitter.com/uqc0fcRiQE
— AS Monaco ????????? (@AS_Monaco) April 20, 2017
This time, the qualification is assured for Leonardo Jardim his valiant troops. At the final whistle, it’s absolute joy for the Principality’s team and for its supporters. The faces are radiant, the smiles displayed on all Monegasque heads… It’s party time in Monaco!
Forever in the memories
For the first time in 13 yearsASM validated its ticket for the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Even though the Juventus Torino will come, thereafter, to put an end to the Monegasque epic in this competition (4-1 cumulated), the ASM will always remember this new and unexpected journey. Kylian Mbappé and his family were able to end the season in style with the title of French champion 2017. The eighth for Monaco, but also the first since 2000.