UCL Recap: Monaco roll against Red Star
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After a frustrating draw against LOSC Lille on Friday, having finished with ten men in a result which cost them top spot in Ligue 1 McDonald's, AS Monaco were in no mood to let anything slip against Red Star Belgrade at the Stade Louis-II as they returned to UEFA Champions League action on Tuesday, running out 5-1 winners with a scoreline that could easily have been far more in their favor.
Strong from the off
With the absences of Folarin Balogun and Mohammed Salisu, manager Adi Hütter had to make some changes to his first-choice eleven, but still lined up a very strong side, with Eliesse Ben Seghir notably starting on the left ahead of Aleksandr Golovin in a 4-2-3-1. Monaco were on the front foot from the off, and nearly went ahead with just four minutes gone, as Breel Embolo dummied for Ben Seghir, who fired wide.
The opener wasn't long in coming, though, as Monaco's pressure told with a sublime ball from Wilfried Singo finding Takumi Minamino on the counter, with the Japanese playmaker neatly slotting home with twenty minutes gone. The visitors would respond, with a penalty awarded to Cherif Ndiaye duly converted by the Senegalese striker. Just before the interval, Monaco would retake the lead thanks to Embolo, who did brilliantly to lay the ball off for before firing home after getting the return.
Centre-back Wilfried Singo today 🇨🇮🔥
⚽️ Goal
🅰️ Assist
☄️ Goal of the season contender pic.twitter.com/QIxZ12rm69— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 22, 2024
Minamino runs the show
In the second half, though, the floodgates would open decisively for the Principality side. Monaco would score three goals, in the half, but also had one flagged offside and hit the woodwork twice, testament to their hunger to record a decisive result. Singo was the first to strike, the Ivorian letting fly with a powerful shot from outside the box ten minutes into the second, half, but the Principality side wouldn't have to wait long for a fourth, even if Embolo was denied a double by the linesman's flag.
After some smart pressing by Maghnes Akliouche, and some interplay in the area, Minamino had his double and Monaco were cruising with twenty minutes to play. They almost had their fifth when Aleksandr Golovin hit the post moments later, but Akliouche would find one in added time, sealing a fine win to leave Monaco with seven points from three Champions League matches, leaving them top of the table ahead of the later matches and continuing their unbeaten start to the season.
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