AS Monaco came agonizingly close to securing a perfect start to their season, but conceded a last-minute penalty that resulted in a 1-1 draw against Lens. The Red and Whites initially took the lead with a header from their new captain, Denis Zakaria, but Lens equalized in stoppage time through a penalty converted by Przemysław Frankowski.
Having already secured victories over Saint-Etienne (1-0) and Lyon (2-0), Monaco aimed for a third consecutive win, a feat they had not achieved since 2017. However, the match proved challenging, with both teams entering the game with six points each.
Monaco manager Adi Hütter opted for a major defensive rotation, introducing Jordan Teze, Christian Mawissa, Wilfried Singo, and Kassoum Ouattara into the starting lineup. Despite sweltering heat, both sides created early chances. Monaco’s Folarin Balogun had an effort blocked, and Zakaria’s shot missed narrowly just before half-time, leaving the score at 0-0.
The second half continued with opportunities on both ends, but the breakthrough came in the 84th minute when Zakaria scored with a powerful header from a Caio Henrique corner. However, in added time, a handball by Zakaria led to a penalty for Lens, which Frankowski converted despite Monaco goalkeeper Philipp Köhn guessing the right direction.
Monaco’s last attempt to win saw a header from Swiss striker Breel Embolo graze the post, but they had to settle for a draw. The result leaves AS Monaco undefeated and near the top of the standings as they head into the international break, with a match against Auxerre set for Saturday, September 14.
