AS Monaco maintained their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 this season, securing a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Lille, despite being reduced to 10 men for the final 30 minutes. Under the watchful eye of club president Dmitry Rybolovlev, the Red and Whites held firm to preserve their unbeaten streak, now standing at eight matches.
Returning to action after the international break, Monaco, who sat atop the league table with six wins and one draw, faced a tough test against an in-form Lille side riding a three-match winning streak, including a prestigious victory over Real Madrid. The encounter was set to be a tightly contested clash at the Stade Louis-II.
Monaco’s head coach Adi Hütter had to contend with the absences of key players Mohammed Salisu and Folarin Balogun due to injuries. To adjust, Hütter fielded Wilfried Singo in defense and gave young striker George Ilenikhena a start up front in a 4-2-3-1 formation. The attacking trio behind Ilenikhena included Takumi Minamino, Eliesse Ben Seghir, and Aleksandr Golovin, while Jordan Teze slotted in at right-back.
The Red and Whites started strongly, applying early pressure and creating chances. Aleksandr Golovin’s shot was saved by Lille’s goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier in the 3rd minute, and minutes later, Eliesse Ben Seghir’s half-volley narrowly missed the target. Lille responded with a swift counter-attack, forcing Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki to make his first save of the season against Jonathan David.
The first half remained a tactical battle with few clear opportunities, though Jordan Teze nearly opened the scoring with a powerful strike that went wide in the 36th minute.
Monaco continued to dominate possession in the second half, with their best chance coming from the Golden Boy finalist, whose header sailed over the bar in the 56th minute. Takumi Minamino also came close but missed the target with his shot.
However, Monaco’s momentum was disrupted when Jordan Teze received a second yellow card in the 61st minute, leaving the team to finish the match with 10 players. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Red and Whites held their ground, while Lille’s Edon Zhegrova fired wide from distance in the 67th minute. Monaco had late chances through Krépin Diatta and Breel Embolo, though the latter was flagged offside.
In stoppage time, Denis Zakaria came close to snatching a late winner after being set up by Maghnes Akliouche, but Chevalier denied him, and the match ended in a goalless draw.
While the match failed to produce goals, the result allows Monaco to remain unbeaten this season and temporarily extend their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to three points over Paris Saint-Germain. Up next, Monaco will turn their attention to the UEFA Champions League, where they face Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday, followed by the Côte d’Azur derby against Nice on Sunday, October 27.