AS Monaco suffered their first defeat of the 2026–27 season on Sunday, October 18, losing 1–0 away to FC Lorient after Noah Cadiou converted a second-half penalty at the Stade du Moustoir.
Filipe Luís’s side entered the Ligue 1 encounter looking to build on Thursday’s 2–1 victory over CSKA Sofia in the UEFA Conference League. However, despite enjoying the greater share of possession and creating several promising opportunities, the visitors were unable to find the breakthrough.
The opening half proved a relatively cautious affair, with both teams struggling to produce clear-cut chances. Ansu Fati headed over in the ninth minute, while Matthis Abline also tried his luck from distance. Lorient responded through Gabin Bernardeau and Ibrahima Baldé, but Denis Zakaria intervened to block both attempts.
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Monaco gradually established control and came close to taking the lead through Aleksandr Golovin. The Russian midfielder unleashed a curling effort from around 25 metres in the 37th minute, narrowly missing the target as the teams went into the interval level at 0–0.
The visitors started the second half with greater urgency. Lamine Camara saw an attempt blocked before Abline forced Lorient goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo into action with a header in the 46th minute.
Despite Monaco’s improved attacking play, it was Lorient who broke the deadlock. A penalty awarded to the hosts in the 61st minute was converted by Cadiou, giving the home side the advantage against the run of play.
Filipe Luís responded with a triple substitution five minutes later, introducing Folarin Balogun among the changes as Monaco searched for an equaliser. The American forward came close in the closing stages, meeting a cross from Edan Diop with a header that was saved by Mvogo in the 79th minute.
Monaco also had to withstand a late threat from Lorient. Dembo Sylla struck the post in the 83rd minute, while goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký intervened to deny Arsène Kouassi shortly afterwards. Mamadou Koné then fired over as the hosts threatened to extend their lead.
Balogun had one final opportunity in stoppage time, but his effort from inside the area sailed over the crossbar. Monaco were unable to find an equaliser and left Brittany empty-handed.
The defeat ends Monaco’s unbeaten start to the campaign, although the club remain joint-leaders of Ligue 1 despite dropping points for the first time this season.
Speaking after the match, Filipe Luís acknowledged that his side had circulated the ball too slowly during the first half, making it easier for Lorient to defend. He felt Monaco improved after the break but admitted that conceding the penalty made the task more difficult.
The Monegasques will have little time to dwell on the result, with their attention now turning back to European competition. Monaco host Freiburg at the Stade Louis-II on Thursday, October 22, in the second round of the Conference League league phase, as they look to return to winning ways.
