Monaco’s punishing week in Belgrade ended with a second straight EuroLeague defeat, this time a 91–79 setback against a fired-up Red Star side in the Stark Arena’s trademark frenzy. After Tuesday’s loss to Partizan, the visitors were desperate for a reaction, but Red Star — guided by former Monaco boss Saša Obradović — had other ideas, outlasting the Principality club with a ruthless final quarter. Vassilis Spanoulis’ men now limp home from Serbia winless and in need of a swift reset before returning to domestic action away at Le Mans on Sunday.
Round 11 sent Monaco back into the cauldron of the Stark Arena, this time draped in Red Star’s colours and packed to the rafters. The Serbs arrived with seven wins from their previous eight, despite a hefty injury list that left Obradović without eight players, including the influential Chima Moneke and Jordan Nwora. Monaco, for their part, had a full squad, with Mike James leading a starting five featuring Strazel, Diallo, Blossomgame, and Theis.
The opening exchanges were lively and balanced, James dictating things early while Miller-McIntyre and Ojeleye answered in kind for the hosts. Monaco edged the first quarter 25–23, helped by a productive bench and a burst from Elie Okobo. When Diallo and Blossomgame pushed the visitors seven points clear, Red Star looked wobbly — but each time Monaco threatened to pull away, the Serbs found a response. Dobrić, in particular, was a persistent menace from deep, dragging Red Star back within touching distance. At the interval, Monaco held a narrow 46–42 advantage, Theis finishing the half at the buzzer courtesy of Strazel’s sharp feed.
The third quarter turned into a tug-of-war. Okobo kept scoring, Blossomgame kept battling, and yet Red Star would not go away. Kalinić, Miller-McIntyre and Dobrić chipped away at the deficit until ASM’s turnovers opened the door. A quick swing handed the hosts the lead, though Strazel’s late three kept Monaco just one point behind heading into the final period.
Then the wheels came off. Red Star raised the intensity, Monaco’s offence misfired, and Butler arrived with back-to-back threes that flipped the momentum for good. Despite Okobo briefly dragging ASM back into contention, Kalinić and Butler struck again, and the Serbs surged clear. Ojeleye reappeared with a timely punch, Dobrić added more damage, and Monaco were left scrambling as the home crowd roared the game towards its conclusion.
By the final buzzer, Red Star had blown the contest open, handing Monaco a bruising 12-point defeat and a winless Serbian road trip. A long weekend flight home awaits — and so does the urgent task of steadying the ship before Le Mans.
