[J38] RC Lens – Monaco: tops and flops
Thanks to a very good start to the match, and crazy additional time, RC Lens managed to grab a deserved point against AS Monaco (2-2). A point that is not enough for Europe, but which has had an exceptional season with a good note.
The hights
The return at the end of the match, artesian specialty
After PSG, after Nantes and Reims, it was Monaco who paid the price for the Lensoise grinta, but in the last moments. And this but, it is of capital importance for Monegasques. Without him, the direct qualification in the Champions League was acquired, with a second place stolen from Marseille in the home straight. But one man decided otherwise, and it was Ignatius Ganago. On receiving a free kick from Jonathan Clauss, the Cameroonian blew up Bollaert one last time this season, opportunist at the penalty point to recover a free ball. A but that allows Racing to grab a point, ending the incredible series of nine straight victories for Philippe Clément’s men, and forcing the Monegasques to a play-off to access the Champions League.
A meeting priced at the right end
From the start of the match, the Lensois showed that they had only one objective: to win. In particular with a very prominent Arnaud Kalimuendo in the first act, Racing has continued to use Alexander Nubel, the German goalkeeper of ASM. At the twentieth minute, Seko Fofana could even have opened the score following a good collective movement, but Nubel was not of this opinion. We had to wait for a half error from the goalkeeper for Frankowski to open the scoring and capsize the Bollaert-Delelis stadium more than full.
Bollaert roared one last time this season
37,764 spectators, 37,764 supporters. Once again, and after two fairly impressive trips where the Lensois almost played at home, the Lensois supporters lived up to their reputation. Despite the Monegasque equalizer by Benoît Badiashile, the Sang et Or public continued to sing, before pushing again from the return from the locker room until the final deliverance, and this goal by Ganago, which blew up the decibel meter. For the last of the season, in a match at stake, the Bollaert-Delelis stadium experienced incredible emotions.
The flops
Two avoidable goals
Even if the Lensoise performance was remarkable against the team to beat at the moment, regrets can be represented on these two more than avoidable Monegasque goals. First on a marking error on a corner, Benoît Badiashile took advantage of a disagreement between Kevin Danso and Facundo Medina to equalize, five minutes after the opening of Frankowski’s score. On returning from the locker room, and after a game of ping-pong on the occasions, it was ultimately the visitors who took advantage of the situation to take the lead. Volland is found on the left and crosses towards Wissam Ben Yedder, forgotten by Kevin Danso at the far post. Small errors that remind the Lensois of the requirement of the very high level, and the realism of a team that claims European places.
Nubel held the Monegasque house
He could have been the hero who gave the Champions League to Monaco, he came within seconds of the feat. With eight saves made this Saturday against Lens, Alexander Nubel will have frustrated the Lensois for a large part of the match. Before cracking against Frankowski, the German goalkeeper won four times, ahead of Kalimuendo (3′, 7′), Doucouré (9′) then Fofana (21′). And despite the first Lensois goal, the former lining of Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich held his rank in the second period. On the cannonball of Seko Fofana, twenty minutes from the end, Nubel is once again present to push back somehow and keep this but in advance. A but that will last until the last seconds of the match, with the scenario that we know.
Arthur LASSERON