AS Monaco produced one of their more complete away performances of the season but were ultimately beaten 1–0 by Olympique de Marseille at the Stade Vélodrome on Sunday, December 14, despite creating many of the match’s clearest chances. The result, decided late on, left the Red and Whites frustrated after seeing a first-half goal controversially ruled out.
The Ligue 1 encounter, watched by club president Dmitry Rybolovlev, carried significant weight for Monaco, who travelled south aiming to build momentum after their recent Champions League win over Galatasaray. Marseille, unbeaten at home and sitting third in the table before kick-off, posed a stern test in front of a packed stadium that included around 300 Monaco supporters.
Coach Sébastien Pocognoli kept faith with the system and starting XI that delivered European success days earlier, pairing Lamine Camara and Denis Zakaria in midfield and handing Folarin Balogun the lead role in attack. The opening exchanges were intense, with both sides pushing forward at pace. Marseille threatened early through Greenwood and Aubameyang, but Lukáš Hradecký remained alert, while Aleksandr Golovin quickly replied with a close-range effort of his own.
Marseille controlled possession for long spells, yet Monaco gradually grew into the contest. Golovin, Minamino and Balogun all tested goalkeeper Rulli before the break, as the visitors finished the first half on top without finding a breakthrough. The pattern continued after the restart, with Monaco pressing high and creating danger in transition.
The game’s pivotal moment arrived when Lamine Camara fired home a superb half-volley, only for the goal to be ruled out for a marginal offside call that drew visible frustration from the Monaco bench. Marseille responded with renewed urgency, forcing Monaco into a defensive spell, though the visitors continued to threaten on the counter.
Both sides had opportunities as the match entered its final phase. Minamino and Balogun came close, the latter seeing a delicate finish chalked off for offside, before Marseille finally struck. Greenwood’s decisive run and finish in the 82nd minute punished Monaco for failing to capitalise on their earlier chances.
Monaco pushed until the final whistle, with Thilo Kehrer and late substitutes both going close in stoppage time, but Rulli preserved Marseille’s lead. The defeat leaves Monaco with plenty of encouragement from the performance, if not the result, as attention now turns to their Coupe de France tie away at Auxerre next weekend.
