A real slap in the face. AS Monaco strolled this Saturday afternoon, winning on the pitch of FC Metz (2-5) on the occasion of the 27th day of Ligue 1. An important victory which allows Adi's men Hütter to provisionally seize second place in the standings and knock LOSC, winner of Friday's derby against Lens (2-1), off the podium.
The big Monegasque victory in figures 📌#FCMASM pic.twitter.com/govMcWqi9Z
— Ligue 1 Uber Eats (@Ligue1UberEats) March 30, 2024
Opposed to penultimate Garnets and mired in a difficult fight to maintain, the Monegasques were quick to make the difference. If Alexandre Oukidja first made a nice reflex save in front of Vanderson (3rd), the Algerian international was unable to do anything against Takumi Minamino. Well found by Eliesse Ben Seghir, the former Liverpool player had plenty of time to control, turn around and strike from the right to surprise the Lorraine goalkeeper (0-1, 4th).
The ASM controlled
Underwater in the face of the technical quality of Monaco, the Messins also suffered in intensity, like the second goal. Aggressive to recover the leather from the feet of Kevin Van den Kerkhof, Maghnes Akliouche went all the way up the field before finishing with a beautiful cross shot at the entrance to the area (0-2, 10th). Never two without three, as the visitors widened the gap just six minutes later. With a sumptuous opening, Aleksandr Golovin alerted Vanderson, author of a good cross volley to shake the nets (0-3, 16th).
Very calm, the Rocher players could even have returned to the locker room with two more goals if Wissam Ben Yedder had been more precise in the area (34th) or if Ismaïl Jakobs had chosen the back pass rather than the strike (38th). Only endangered by Georges Mikautadze during the first act, the attacker missing his face-to-face with Radosław Majecki (12th), the ASM controlled the second part of the match, leaving the residents of the Stade Saint-Symphorien own the leather without being more pressing than that.
The chances continued to rain down on the Metz cages, Fali Candé coming close to scoring an own goal (49th) before Matthieu Udol saved his team in front of Folarin Balogun (70th). Entering the game, the latter finally took advantage of a huge ball from Oukidja, author of a more than risky backheel and completely missed in his own area (0-4, 76th).
A reaction too late
After hitting rock bottom, the Grenats finally reacted through Pape Amadou Diallo, quicker than Thilo Kehrer to take Ablie Jallow's good cross (1-4, 79th), then through Ibou Sané, left free in the surface on a similar action (2-4, 84th). A reaction far too late, immediately sanctioned by Balogun, easy to take a good corner from Akliouche and score his first double this season (2-5, 88th).
Second while waiting for Brest-Lorient this Sunday, Monaco, which has lost only one of its last seven matches in Ligue 1, will be able to approach the reception of Rennes next week in good conditions. And on the podium.