Abline the hero again as Nantes hold Monaco in thrilling draw
Match Reports
While it wasn't the win they would have hoped for after taking a 2-0 lead just after the break, FC Nantes will surely be pleased with a third draw in five Ligue 1 matches against top sides, as the hosts held on against visiting AS Monaco for all two-all draw.
A bright start...
With newly-signed Anthony Lopes back in goal, and an emotional home crowd paying tribute to Emiliano Sala in the ninth minute, the momentum to start the match was all behind Antoine Kombouaré's team against a short-handed Monaco. The Principality side had to make do without key attackers Aleksandr Golovin, Takumi Minamino and Maghnes Akliouche, and were blunted in the early going. It didn't take long for in-form Matthis Abline (three goals in five Ligue 1 McDonald's matches) to give the hosts the lead, as he smartly finished from Sorba Thomas' cutback.
It would take until midway through the first half for Lopes to make his first save, but Monaco were growing in to the game, with Kassoum Ouattara showing himself to be the danger man with a fine pair of crosses for first Breel Embolo and then Denis Zakaria, but neither of the two Swiss internationals could level the score. Indeed, it was Nantes who struck next, with Thomas again playing provider as he set up Kelvin Amian to double the lead just after the break, putting no small amount of pressure on the Principality side.
First goal in Ligue 1 for Mohammed Salisu! đŹđđ pic.twitter.com/YEXfwHtg3O
â Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 10, 2025
But Monaco battle back!
But the visitors were unfazed by going behind by two goals, and pulled one back almost immediately, as Wilfried Singo linked well with Embolo and the striker showed some fine holdup play before beating Lopes from close range. Monaco had the bit between their teeth, and quickly pressed for an equalizer, with Eliesse Ben Seghir forcing a fine save from Lopes on 55 minutes. Then, just before the hour mark, Lamine Camara delivered a fine corner which found the head of Mohammed Salisu who leveled the score at two-all.
Stunned, Nantes sat deeper as Monaco pressed for a winner, but despite the visitors' best efforts, they were unable to break the deadlock, with their best chance coming ten minutes from time as Nicolas Pallois cleared Embolo's strike off the line. The result leaves Monaco provisionally third, ahead of Lille and with Lyon still to play their match this weekend, while Nantes remain level with Saint-Ătienne in the relegation playoff spot.
The stat: 7
Lamine Camara now has seven assists in Ligue 1 McDonald's, six of which have come from set pieces (three each with AS Monaco and FC Metz)
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