AS Monaco put on a show in the penultimate home match of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season at the Stade Louis II, blasting four goals past Clermont on the afternoon of Saturday, May 4.
A slow start to the match was subsequently followed by a beautiful Takumi Minamino goal. The Japanese midfielder capitalised on a poor Clermont clearance, striking a curled ball into the top right corner to open the scoring at the 16th minute.
The visiting side then perhaps surprised their hosts by equalising at the 34th minute, thanks to a goal by Mohamed Cham, and an even more impressive assist by his teammate, Alan Virginius.
Clermont’s celebrations were cut short just three minutes later, as Wissam Ben Yedder served Breel Embolo in the box, before the Swiss striker slotted the ball into the back of the net to get Monaco back ahead, marking a successful return to goalscoring since a lengthy period of post-injury recovery. Embolo’s last goal was also scored against Clermont, back in February, 2023.
Team captain Ben Yedder was just getting started in this fixture, as he went on to score his 116th goal in red and white at the 57th minute, making the most of some shoddy defending to bring the score to 3-1. This goal makes the skipper the second highest goalscorer in the history of the club, an impressive stat line that he only doubled down on by scoring again to bring the hosts ahead by 4-1 at the 88th minute, before the final whistle signalled the host’s victory.
With a handful of memorable goals, a monumental Ben Yedder brace and three points in the bag, the many Monaco supporters in the stands of the Principality’s stadium certainly got what they bargained for. This result further consolidates the Monegasques’ second place standing in the French Championship, which qualifies Monaco for Champions League football next season.
The next match will see Monaco take on Montpellier, away on Sunday, May 12.
Featured image courtesy of AS Monaco: the author of a monumental brace, Wissam Ben Yedder
