AS Monaco welcomed defending Ligue 1 champions Lille for a regular season fixture at the Stade Louis II on the evening of Friday, November 19.

Head coach Niko Kovac chose to play his men in the classic 4-4-2 formation on the occasion of Monaco’s National Day, featuring Senegalese international Krepin Diatta in the midfield just behind Kevin Volland up front.

The match did not kick-off in the host’s favour, as Lille managed to put not one but two past the Principality’s posts in just the first 10 minutes.

Jonathan David opened the scoring for Lille by successfully converting a penalty at the 3rd minute, and the Canadian striker doubled down with another goal at the 7th minute, this time from open play.

With a scoreline of 0-2 in the first ten minutes of the match, the visitors were beginning to look comfortable, as David and co’ continued to put Monaco goalie Alexander Nübel to work.

Thankfully for the Monegasques and their supporters in the stands, Diatta came to the rescue by scoring with a firm left-footed finish 16 metres out from goal. This would be Diatta’s first Ligue 1 goal of the season, and a lifeline for Monaco as the two teams returned to the locker room for halftime.

The hosts held on to their fighting spirit going into the second half, and began taking more and more shots on goal in search for the equaliser.

At the 72nd minute, Kovac brought out the big guns in the form of Wissam Ben Yedder at the 72nd minute, presumably in the hope of inspiring a last minute leveller.

Fortunately enough, the Croat tactician was correct. It would be Ben Yedder who would make it level at the 83rd minute, thanks to a timely assist by Volland. This would be the 50th goal under the belt of Ben Yedder with Monaco, as the magician continues to shine in the Principality side.

“Wissam Ben Yedder has scored 8 Ligue 1 goals after coming on in 2021, at least 3 more than any other European Top 5 player in the calendar year. Joker”

The match came close to ending differently as both sides kept up the fight. However, at the end of a quality meeting between two Ligue 1 giants, Monaco came away with one point from a draw. As a result, Monaco currently occupy seventh place in the Ligue 1 table.

The red and white’s next fixture is a European one, as Monaco prepare to welcome Real Sociedad for a Europa League group stage match on the evening of Thursday, November 25.

Featured image courtesy of @WissBenYedder on Twitter