Match Reports
Balogun helps Monaco top Sainté in lively affair
A gritty display in an entertaining match at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard was enough to earn AS Monaco just their second away win of 2025, lifting them into a provisional second place in Ligue 1 McDonald's.
Changes for Monaco, and a strong start
Looking for a win after last week's dismal draw in Le Havre, Monaco manager Adi Hütter rang the changes on this occasion, leaving the likes of Vanderson and Breel Embolo on the bench, while also playing without the suspended Lamine Camara. Determined to continue to play in a 4-4-2, he brought in Folarin Balogun -- the American was making his first start in five months -- and Soungoutou Magassa. For the hosts, who had to make do without the injured Lucas Stassin, 16-year-old Djylian N'Guessan was tasked with the leading the line.
Despite their poor away form, and absentees, Monaco wasted no time in getting to grips with the match, as Maghnes Akliouche opened the scoring with less than two minutes on the clock. A great team move was finished over by the French U-21 international, unmarked at the far post as he scored his fifth goal of the season. Despite having conceded first, Sainté responded quickly, with a chipped effort from Irvin Cardona flashing past the post. From there, though, the match settled to some extent, and the Principality side would hold their narrow lead going into the break.
Akliouche is special ✨🙌 pic.twitter.com/ZIzGD35iXM
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 3, 2025
Sainté battle back, but Monaco have the final word
After the break, Monaco looked to press for an advantage, and Breel Embolo, who had replaced the injured Mika Biereth for the visitors, was unable to put a header on target. Midway through the second half, it looked as if Monaco's profligacy would make the difference, as in-form Zuriko Davitashvili scored a long-range screamer to level the tie with less than thirty minutes to play.
Monaco were momentarily stunned, but would soon retake the lead as first Al-Musrati and then Balogun scored, rounding out a 3-1 win. Al-Musrati, on for Magassa in midfield, scored for the first time in La Diagonale with a powerful low drive from the edge of the area, while Balogun netted for the first time in the calendar year ten minutes later, taking advantage of a cushioned pass from Akliouche to complete the scoring.
With the result, Monaco go a provisional second ahead of next week's massive match against Olympique Lyonnais, while Les Verts will head to Reims, hoping that tomorrow's results for Angers and Le Havre don't further dent their hopes of survival.
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