AS Monaco earned their first Champions League victory of the season with a hard-fought 1–0 win over Bodø/Glimt in freezing, rain-soaked conditions on the night of Tuesday, November 4. Folarin Balogun’s clinical strike just before half-time proved enough to secure all three points, reigniting Monaco’s hopes of progressing from the group stage.
With temperatures hovering around zero and rain pouring down on the artificial turf of Aspmyra Stadion, Monaco faced a tough test against a Bodø/Glimt side known for toppling European giants such as Roma and Lazio. Club president Dmitry Rybolovlev made the trip to Norway to watch his team finally get their Champions League campaign off the mark, following two draws against Manchester City and Tottenham.
Head coach Sébastien Pocognoli stuck with his favoured 3-4-3 formation but was forced to make adjustments due to injuries to Ansu Fati and Krépin Diatta. Aleksandr Golovin joined Mamadou Coulibaly in midfield, while Jordan Teze operated on the right flank. Up front, Balogun led the line with Maghnes Akliouche and Takumi Minamino in support.
The opening stages were cagey, with both sides struggling to adapt to the slick surface. Monaco created the first clear chance when Thilo Kehrer’s header sailed just over the bar. Bodø’s Kasper Høgh soon tested Philipp Köhn with a delicate chip, but the Swiss goalkeeper was alert.
Monaco began to assert themselves midway through the first half, and after several half-chances, they finally broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute. Balogun latched onto a loose ball inside the box and fired past Nikita Haikin from a tight angle to give the visitors the lead. The hosts nearly hit back instantly, striking the post just before half-time.
The second half saw Bodø/Glimt press forward in search of an equaliser, but Monaco’s defence, marshalled by Caio Henrique and Kehrer, held firm. Köhn produced a string of impressive saves to deny Høgh and Jens Petter Hauge as the Norwegians piled on the pressure.
In response, Pocognoli brought on Pape Cabral and later Mika Biereth to steady the midfield and stretch the game. The latter made an instant impact, drawing a red card from Gundersen in the 82nd minute that left the home side down to ten men. With the advantage, Monaco nearly doubled their lead through Mamadou Coulibaly, whose shot was brilliantly saved by Haikin.
The visitors managed the closing minutes with composure, repelling a final wave of Bodø attacks to secure a vital 0-1 win — their first of this European campaign. The result lifts Monaco back into contention and restores belief after a difficult start.
Next up for the Red and Whites is a trip to Cyprus to face Paphos on Wednesday, November 26, where they’ll aim to build on this momentum and strengthen their bid for qualification.
