AS Monaco delivered a statement of intent in the Ligue 1 run-in, brushing aside Saint-Étienne 3-1 at the Geoffroy-Guichard on Friday night. With Champions League football on the line and little margin for error, the Red and Whites showed up with steel, precision, and just enough flair to silence a raucous home crowd and climb, at least temporarily, back into second place.
Facing a Saint-Étienne side fighting tooth and nail for survival, Adi Hütter’s men arrived under pressure following a disappointing draw in Le Havre. But any nerves were quickly dispelled—Maghnes Akliouche opened the scoring inside two minutes, slotting home after a fluid team move and pinpoint cross from Caio Henrique. It was Monaco’s fastest goal of the season, clocking in at just 78 seconds.
Despite the early blow, the hosts responded with grit. Irvin Cardona went close with a lob, and Monaco suffered a setback when striker Mika Biereth was forced off injured, replaced by Breel Embolo. The Swiss forward nearly made an instant impact, narrowly missing a chance to double the lead after Akliouche’s clever cross was deflected.
Saint-Étienne kept things interesting after the break. Though Monaco looked the more composed side—Balogun and Embolo both spurned chances—it was Zuriko Davitashvili who struck next, curling in a beauty from the edge of the area in the 65th minute to level the score.
That parity lasted all of three minutes. Moatasem Al-Musrati, barely on the pitch, introduced himself with a low rocket from the edge of the box to put Monaco back in front. It was the Libyan midfielder’s first goal for the club—and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Monaco sealed the win in the 78th minute when Akliouche, at the heart of everything good, slid a clever ball through to Folarin Balogun. The American, back in the starting line-up for the first time in nearly five months, beat the offside trap and coolly slotted past Gauthier Larsonneur for his fourth of the season. A confident return, and one that may prove vital in the final stretch.
Akliouche, with his ninth assist of the campaign—a club high—departed late on to deserved applause, replaced by Krépin Diatta. Saint-Étienne huffed and puffed until the end, with Wadji heading over from close range, but the result was never really in doubt.
The 3-1 win temporarily lifts Monaco back to second in the Ligue 1 standings, though Lille and Marseille still have a say this weekend. Next up: a home clash with Lyon, where another three points would edge Hütter’s men even closer to Europe’s top table.
