Two matches is what separates AS Monaco from a return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2018-2019 season.
However, these two posters - the first this Tuesday evening (9 p.m.) in the Principality - will not be an easy task, since between the group stages and Monaco stands the Shakhtar Donetsk.
The Donbass club may not be the greatest team on paper, but it is nonetheless a regular at European summits with in particular a Europa League semi-final in 2020 as well as a title in this same competition in 2009.
Even if it has never done better than a round of 16 in its history in the Champions League, the Ukrainian team can rely on its new coach Roberto De Zerbi.
With his offensive playing principles based on a licked possession game, the Italian coach, who arrived this summer, has already transformed the face of Shakhtar.
Currently 3rd in its championship after 4 days, the Ukrainian club will be keen to join Dynamo Kiev, already qualified for the group stages.
The Shakhtar, "
the toughest opponent
"
These are the words that were used by Niko Kovac to describe Shakhtar Donetsk after the qualification of his team in the play-off. And for good reason, the Croatian technician knows exactly what will await his players during this double confrontation, “
In Donetsk, what I know is that there is a new coach, an Italian
(Roberto De Zerbi).
He's a very tough opponent, the toughest one we could meet in this jump-off, but we're going to play our luck to the max. They beat Real Madrid twice last season and have a lot of chances to pass but we will be ready for this fight
”.
Indeed, the Ukrainians had given a real football lesson to the Madrilenians on their two clashes in the group stage (wins 3-2 and 2-0).
Despite everything, they had not managed to qualify for the round of 16, the fault of two draws against Inter but especially two heavy defeats against Borussia Mönchengladbach (4-0 and 6-0).
Because if this team accepts to open the game, it sometimes happens to explode in flight, as against AS Roma in the Europa League last season where it suffered two defeats 2-1 and 3-0 or against the 'Inter Milan where she suffered a 5-0 rout in the semifinals during the 2019-2020 edition.
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Avoid the inferiority complex
If Niko Kovac did not hesitate to claim that Shakhtar would be favorite, AS Monaco should not however present themselves as a victim against the Ukrainians. On paper, the Monegasques seem superior, even if we should always be wary of this team used to Europe. To realize the magnitude of the task that awaits Ben Yedder and others, it should be noted that Shakhtar Donetsk has never missed an edition of the Champions League since the 2004-2005 season. Depriving the Ukrainians of this competition would therefore already be a small feat for Niko Kovac and his players. In addition, the Rocher players will have to put aside their complicated start in the league, where they still have not been able to taste victory after two days (draw against Nantes and defeat against Lorient).
For this meeting, the Monegasques will therefore have to be sharper than in their last two outings in Ligue 1. Out of 28 shots, the Rocher players have only scored 5 times, a total far too low to hope to pocket victory.
However, this observation could work out against Shakhtar, a team that will not refuse the game contrary to what Nantes or Lorient could offer against Monaco.
In addition, Kovac players will have to keep an eye on Lassina Traoré, a young 20-year-old striker freshly transferred from Ajax Amsterdam and already involved in 4 goals in 6 matches with the Ukrainian team.
Tchouameni and Diop, the key factors
To try to take an option on qualifying on Tuesday evening before a perilous trip to Ukraine, Kovac's men will still be able to rely on some certainties. First of all, his midfielder Tchouameni-Fofana, author of two good matches against Sparta Prague. The first, scorer of the head in the first leg, is the playing master of this Monegasque team and often brings light to the middle thanks to his verticality in the game. Physically impacting, Aurélien Tchouameni will have a hard time facing the technique and the the ability of the Ukrainians to get out of the pressing since the arrival of De Zerbi.
Sofiane Diop will also be to watch on the Monegasque side. He who should choose to represent Morocco on the international scene is one of the elements in the form of this workforce. Scorer in the return match against Prague, he will have to take care of waking up an attack still dormant on the lawns of Ligue 1. In any case, the 21-year-old playmaker has all the confidence of his coach, who does not did not hesitate to be very laudatory towards him. “
I remember his journey. He went on loan to Sochaux, he came back and trained with Team 2. He did a great job. Of course, he needs to progress defensively. It's like when you drive a car, you don't drive in one direction and you also have to look behind.
[...]
He had a small ankle injury at the end of the preparation, but he made a great comeback. He was very prominent in his first matches. If he continues down this path, he will become a great player. He is capable of playing right winger, ten or left winger
”. It is now up to Sofiane Diop to prove his coach right by being decisive from the first leg.