Having claimed a well deserved win against FC Nantes on the afternoon of September 13, the Principality side now boasts 1,000 top division victories, a monumental milestone for the well-established club. ASM fans will no doubt be satisfied with the performance displayed by the red and whites under the floodlights of Stade Louis II as the team dominated right from the beginning.
Latecomers to the match would have been annoyed as Sofiane Diop found the back of the net for Monaco in the fifth minute. A strategic play capitalised on the shortcomings of Nantes’ defence and resulted in a class finish by Diop to the cheers of the home crowd. This early success set the tone for the remainder of the first half as Monaco seemingly fortified themselves in the midfield.
As the players returned to the pitch the tempo of the game changed considerably, with Nantes applying themselves more readily. Veteran Cesc Fabregas made his 800th career appearance and demonstrated his experience as a playmaker with a variety of precise passes but was unable to double up his side’s lead. Les Canaris turned their attention on goal and made their mark on the scoreline to equalise in the 61st minute. However, the opposition’s celebrations were short-lived as a combined effort from two super-subs saw Monaco reprise their lead just four minutes later, and the crowd went mad.
Head Coach Niko Kovac’s decision to substitute in Henry Onyekuru and Willem Geubbels quickly paid off as Geubbels struck a sweet ball from Onyekuru. While many other attempts were made on goal by both sides, les Monegasques would ultimately hold on to that one goal lead for a strong 2-1 finish at home.
This memorable match puts Monaco at the top of the Ligue 1 table alongside Lille and Rennes, a sharp contrast to the beginning of the 2019/20 season. Kovac and co’ now boast two consecutive wins and will be looking to make that three in their next fixture away against Rennes on September 19.
It is no secret that HSH Prince Albert is a fan of the historic club. The sovereign often watches his favourite team at Stade Louis II and would have seen it develop to the top flight team it is today. He commented: “Today, its with an immense joy that fills and warms our hearts, that we commemorate our 1000th victory in Ligue 1… Daghe Munegu!”
Featured image courtesy of AS Monaco, Kevin Volland and Sofiane Diop celebrate their early success
