Toulouse snatch draw against Monaco
Match Reports
In a hard-fought draw in Toulouse, Les Violets recovered from going down a goal early in the match to snatch a point against AS Monaco to kick off Matchday 25.
In-form Biereth, Minamino combine
AS Monaco have been one of the league's form teams at home, winning each of their last four Ligue 1 McDonald's matches at the Stade-Louis II, but their struggles on the road have seen them slip from the top three, as Adi Hütter's side are yet to win on their travels in 2025. As for Toulouse, they've endured some inconsistencies this season, but entered the match comfortably mid-table, sitting eighth with their hopes of climbing toward the European places bolstered by the league's second-best defence.
That defence would be put to the test from the off, though, as Monaco, despite missing suspended captain Denis Zakaria, were well up for the occasion, with in-form Mika Biereth (ten goals in seven matches) getting involved early doors. While the Dane was wayward with his first attempt before being denied by the offside flag, it would take just over a quarter of an hour for him to be involved in the opener, setting up another in-form player Takumi Minamino (three goals, two assists in his last four) for an early lead for the visitors. With Maghnes Akliouche also proving a handful for the hosts' defence, Monaco pushed for a second, but in a chippy match, halftime would be whistled with the Principality side still ahead 1-0.
Mika Biereth’s impact is UNREAL 🤯
🆚 Rennes: ⚽️
🆚 Auxerre: ⚽️⚽️⚽️
🆚 Nantes: ⚽️⚽️⚽️
🆚 Lille: 🅰️
🆚 Reims: ⚽️⚽️⚽️
🆚 Toulouse: 🅰️ pic.twitter.com/FVJE4RBciE— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) March 7, 2025
Fine margins tell the story
Toulouse looked to have a mountain to climb in the second half -- without the injured duo of Zakaria Aboukhlal and Joshua King (the team's two leading scorers), Carles Martínez Novell's team would have their work cut out for them. In that duo's place, Frank Magri was leading the line, and the Frenchman was close to equalizing midway through the second half, only to be denied by the vigilance of Radek Majecki in the Monaco goal.
Magri would have his revenge in added time, though. Monaco had continued to push for a second goal, and even hit the post through Wilfried Singo, but their narrow lead evaporated in the 91st minute. After a mix-up at the back, Magri's pressing saw the ball squirt loose, and after a fine bit of control, he slotted the ball home for a vital point. With the draw, the hosts remain eighth, while Monaco stay fourth, two points back of OGC Nice ahead of Les Aiglons taking on Lyon on Sunday. Next up for Toulouse themselves is a trip to face RC Strasbourg, one of the division's top sides in 2025, next Sunday, while Monaco will look to refocus their top-four hopes with a trip to Angers next Saturday.
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