Recap: Maghnes Akliouche Stars in Monaco's Win Over Rennes
Match Reports
AS Monaco secured three valuable points that keep them in the race for an automatic UEFA Champions spot for next season following their 3-2 win over Stade Rennais on Saturday at Stade Louis II.
Maghnes Akliouche opened the scoring for Monaco in the 15th minute as the home side took a 1-0 lead. Akliouche scored with a brilliant left-footed bicycle kick strike from the center of the box, sending the ball into the top left corner after a well-placed assist from Vanderson.
The visitors found their equalizer just before halftime when Mahamadou Nagida stepped up, delivering a precise right-footed shot from close range into the bottom right corner, leveling the score at 1-1.
In the second half, the scoring between Monaco and Rennes picked up even more as Adi HĂŒtter and his side took a 2-1 lead in the 52nd minute.
Mika Biereth, Monaco's January signing, marked his first goal for the club in style, capitalizing on a swift counterattack and striking a precise right-footed shot from the right side of the box into the center of the net off an assist from Lamine Camara following a counter-attack.
Four minutes later, Monaco added the crucial insurance goal as Aleksandr Golovin scored to make the scoreline 3-1 in the 56th minute. Golovin calmly slotted the ball into the bottom left corner with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, set up by Akliouche after a quick counterattack.
Rennes did show fight as they cut the deficit to one goal in the 67th minute off a goal from Amine Gouiri. The 24-year-old found the back of the net with a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending the ball into the bottom right corner, thanks to a perfectly timed assist from Seko Fofana.
Jorge Sampaoli and his team would fall short of a comeback as Monaco took all three points with the 3-2 win. The victory did come at a cost for the home team as Denis Zakaria left the game in the 58th minute with an injury.
After the match, Akliouche spoke to beIN Sports to discuss the victory and the squad's performance.
"Today, weâre happy with how things went. We were able to play a lot together. Sometimes itâs hard for us to connect, but today, offensively, I think we combined well, created a lot of space, and we couldâve even scored a few more goals."
The Stat: Mika Biereth continues his impressive 2024-25 form
Despite switching from Sturm Graz to Monaco this month, Biereth has been in fantastic form in his last few matches for his former and current club. Biereth has been involved in seven of his previous eight club matches in official competitions, registering six goals and four assists.
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