Monaco revives by dominating Nice in a dull Riviera derby
AS Monaco won the victory this Sunday against OGC Nice (1-0), at the end of the sixth day of Ligue 1. Rather dominant but long clumsy, the Monegasques were rewarded in the second period thanks to Emboloe de Breel.
The Riviera derby, also a duel between two Europeans, turned out to Monaco’s advantage. ASM won this Sunday at the end of the sixth day of Ligue 1 on the ground of OGC Nice (1-0), resuming a success that had eluded them since the first day against Strasbourg.
Before starting the group stage in the Europa League Conference and the Europa League respectively on Thursday, OGC Nice and AS Monaco were probably not completely reassured either. The Aiglons supporters will perhaps remember the presentation before the kick-off of Ross Barkley, the twelfth summer signing. The 28-year-old English international will quickly have to bring his experience to the middle. Gaëtan Laborde, who arrived this week from Rennes, made his debut with Andy Delort.
Atal out through injury
The Laborde-Delort duo, who have thrilled Montpellier in the past, will no doubt need a little time to find their way back to normal. Especially with Nicolas Pépé, also recently arrived. But the attacking trio was underpowered as the Monegasques dominated the battle in the middle while struggling in the last gesture, with no shots on target for 69 minutes. The first attempt on target nevertheless brought back the three points.
Opposite, the Niçois managed to find the frame with in particular a big volley (29th) from Nicolas Pépé or a header from Dante (44th), who was prowling in the area. But Jean-Clair Todibo had no trouble admitting that the Aiglons’ game was “sterile”, far from expectations for such an appointment. Especially since the people of Nice lost Youcef Atal, who had had the first opportunity of the party (13th). After an acceleration in the 32nd minute, the right piston asked for the change.
In a rough match, which took a long time to get started, Aleksandr Golovin could have changed the scenario before the break (41st) but the Russian opened his foot too much. When he returned from the locker room, he also narrowly failed, after playing Jean-Clair Todibo. The attacking midfielder finally found the post (51st).
Embolo scores on the first Monegasque shot on target… in the 69th
The game finally got carried away on the hour mark with first an outside left from Dante, who stumbled on Alexander Nübel (63rd). In the process (65th), Youssouf Fofana saw his but be refused for an offside position, even if the referee waited for the decision of the VAR for a hand from Melvin Bard on a strike from Krépin Diatta.
It was finally Breel Embolo, on Monaco’s first shot on target, who delivered his team (69th). The Swiss international emerged from the head on a nice cross from Caio Henrique. The Gym was still messy afterwards even if the newcomer Sofiane Diop, him the former of Monaco, brought a little, even if his only attempt was a little too soft (90 + 2nd) to deceive Nubel.
Philippe Clément’s men revived with eight units, allowing them to move up to 10th place. They will go to Belgrade on Thursday to play against Etoile Rouge, before a clash against OL at Louis II next Sunday. The same day, Nice goes to Ajaccio, red lantern of Ligue 1 with a single point taken. Before that, the Aiglons will host Cologne, seventh last year in the Bundesliga, for the start of the group stage in the Europa Conference League.