AS Monaco offers the shock against Olympique Lyonnais
AS Monaco won this Sunday evening against Olympique Lyonnais (2-1) at the end of the seventh day of Ligue 1. It is the first victory for the Monegasques this season at Louis II.
The game: 2-1
A week after their success on the lawn of rival Nice (0-1), AS Monaco signed a third consecutive success in all competitions at the end of a match that was initially controlled but finally breathless against Olympique Lyonnais, direct competitor for a place on the podium at the end of the season.
Once again presented in 3-5-2, Philippe Clément’s men delivered a successful performance until the 80th minute, obtaining numerous chances.
In the wake of an inspired Aleksandr Golovin and true guardian of the Monegasque game, the Monegasques almost found the net on several occasions in the first period, like Krépin Diatta and Breel Embolo, restless and available on the front of the attack.
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But neither the first (15′, 33′) nor the second (16′, 21′) managed to deceive the vigilance of a decisive Anthony Lopes on a pure and powerful strike from Golovin just before the break (43 ′).
It was finally when they returned from the locker room, on two set pieces and in the space of just seven minutes, that AS Monaco drew their success, extinguishing for a few moments all the hopes of Olympique Lyonnais, unable to react after these two goals (see below).
But in the last moments of the game, the Lyonnais equalized through Karl Toko-Ekambi (81′), completely restarting the game. As a savior, Alexander Nübel preserved the victory for his team by pulling off an exceptional save in front of Moussa Dembele (90′).
A valuable success for ASM, against a direct competitor. With this double victory in Ligue 1, Axel Disasi’s teammates move up to seventh place (11 points). Next meeting, next Thursday (6:45 p.m.) in the Europa League against Ferencvaros.
The turning point: ASM assumed Lyon on set pieces
Two kicks stopped. Two offerings from Caio Henrique. Two goals which allow AS Monaco to glean their third victory of the season in Ligue 1.
In a meeting where the few chances of the two teams came to nothing, the decision came from set pieces. On a first corner struck by the Brazilian, Benoît Badiashile emerged to place his head and open the scoring (1-0, 56′).
Seven minutes later, it was from a free kick this time that Caio Henrique proved conclusive, finding the header from Guillermo Maripan (2-0, 63′). Like Badiashile, Maripan took the opportunity to score his second goal of the season in the league and ASM its seventh this season from set pieces in all competitions.
The performance: decisive Alexander Nübel
What if Alexander Nübel was going through his best period in the jersey of AS Monaco? Already imperial against OGC Nice, the German goalkeeper was once again against Olympique Lyonnais.
With five parades in total, the goalkeeper on loan from Bayern Munich mainly saved his team after regulation time. By fending off Moussa Dembele’s shoulder shot from close range into the penalty area, Alexander Nübel extinguished the fire.
A complete new performance, which could possibly silence the critics about his performance since his arrival on the Rock last summer. With a Nübel as inspired as against OL, AS Monaco can see it coming.
The number: 2
Like the number of assists distributed in this meeting by Caio Henrique, who is now at four this season.
The sentence: “The three points at home, it feels good”
Youssouf Fofana “We were up against a big team from Lyon, who had a good start to the season. We were strong, even if we could have killed the match earlier. But taking the three points at home feels good.”