Despite hitting the post twice, the Rouge et Blanc lost by the smallest of margins at the Stade Louis-II (0-1) against a clinical Reims.
Unlucky! This is how we can define AS Monaco’s match this Sunday against Reims. Despite the post being hit by Wissam Ben Yedder and Vanderson, the Rouge et Blanc were pegged back by Folarin Balogun at the start of the second half and lost 1-0 at the Stade Louis-II.
The context
Sur une série de trois matchs consécutifs sans victoire toutes compétitions confondues, l’AS Monaco est sur une période moins faste. Avec la réception de Reims, ils voulaient donc retrouver le goût de la victoire tout en faisant tomber une formation qui reste sur 18 rencontres sans défaite. La dernière étant face aux Rouge et Blanc en septembre dernier (3-0).
La compo
Pour ce match de la 27e journée de Ligue 1, Philippe Clement reste dans son schéma en 4-2-3-1 avec la présence de Maghnes Akliouche en numéro 10 derrière Wissam Ben Yedder. Pour le reste, aucun changement n’est à signaler par rapport au XI aligné contre Troyes. Malgré les retours de Vanderson et Guillermo Maripan, Ruben Aguilar et Malang Sarr gardent leurs places de titulaire.
The scenario
The start of the match saw Stade de Reims keep the ball and it was they who created the first chance, with a long shot by Dion Lopy (4′). This was captured by Alexander Nübel who did well to dive to his left. The Monegasque reaction came six minutes later through Wissam Ben Yedder. On a long ball by Caio Henrique, the striker saw Yehvann Diouf off his line and tried a lobbed header which was finally stopped by the Reims goalkeeper (10′).
Our Rouge et Blanc are unlucky
The rhythm then dropped in intensity for 15 minutes and it was necessary to wait until the half hour mark to thrill the supporters present at the Stade Louis-II. The Rouge et Blanc captain, twice, was indeed close to opening the scoring. First on along ball by Maghnes Akliouche, he could not get off a shot (29′), before his chipped effort hit the left post (30′).
A few moments later, Reims proved dangerous through Folarin Balogun but the striker lost out to Alexander Nübel, who did well with his feet (40′). The two teams therefore were level at the break (0-0). At the start of the second half, the Rouge et Blanc showed good intentions and Vanderson, who had come on at the break, also hit the post (49′).
Dangerous chances are in vain
Unlucky, they nevertheless would concede the opener from Folarin Balogun, who sprung the offside trap (51′). After this goal, Philippe Clement range the changes by bringin on Breel Embolo and Ismail Jakobs on the hour, and moving Aleksandr Golovin to play as a number 10.
The Tsar did not take long to prove dangerous with a curling effort captured by Yehvann Diouf (66′). As for our number 36, he saw his powerful shot go just wide (71′). The Rouge et Blanc pushed to equalize late in the game and Vanderson created a great opportunity from the right, but it was stopped by the visitors’ goalkeeper (84′).
Look for victory in Ajaccio
Focused on attacking, they were thus fragile on the counter-attack and on one of these, the English striker had a one-on-one with Alexander Nübel (85′). It then took a good save from the goalkeeper to prevent a second goal by Reims. No other goals would come and AS Monaco conceded defeat against Reims by the smallest of margins. This therefore results in the loss of third place to Lens before a trip to face Ajaccio next Sunday (1 p.m.). NEVER GIVE UP!
Source: www.asmonaco.com
