Match Reports
Monaco beat Lyon to secure Champions League football
Second half goals from Takumi Minamino and Denis Zakaria helped the Monégasques to a crucial 2-0 win over Lyon, securing at least a third place finish for the Principality side and with it, Champions League football for next season.
A LIVELY (and nervY) first half
The only game of Matchday 33 that saw two teams both in the hunt for the European places squaring off against each other, AS Monaco welcomed Lyon to the Stade Louis-II without several key players, including Folarin Balogun, Aleksandr Golovin and Al-Musrati. Lyon themselves were without veteran midfielder Corentin Tolisso, and both teams took a lively approach to the match's early going, even with the visitors were in more dire need of a win to keep their faint European hopes alive.
Lyon would have the first chance of the match, but Alexandre Lacazette snatched at a cross from Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Monaco responded immediately, but Mika Biereth, who passed fit for the match at the eleventh hour, snatched at his chance. Lyon would strike next, with Lacazette forcing Philipp Köhn into a fine save. Less than a quarter of an hour into the match, each side had had strong chances, but the breakthrough was yet to come, even as Takumi Minamino would then test Lucas Perri after being played in by Breel Embolo.
After a blinding first twenty minutes, the rhythm of the match dropped slightly, with Clinton Mata having been forced off for the visitors. Köhn would again make a fine save, this time denying Malick Fofana just past the half-hour, but the match would reach the break with neither side able to find the net.
AS Monaco is officially qualified to Champions League next season ✨🇲🇨 pic.twitter.com/MCeun1OCu8
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) May 10, 2025
Minamino and "Zak" secure the win
After the break, Monaco had the bit between their teeth as first Biereth and then Embolo tested Perri, but each time the Brazilian kept the attackers at bay. He could do nothing, though, with Minamino's effort just after the hour. Picking up the ball in space, the Japanese attacker let fly with an impressive strike that found the top corner, his ninth of the season in all competitions, giving his side the lead.
Six minutes later, captain Denis Zakaria would double the lead. The Swiss international midfielder, left unmarked at a free kick, would lash home Lamine Camara's delivery to make it 2-0, and send the hosts on their way. From there, the match drifted somewhat, with only a header by Wilfried Singo a chance of note, as Adi Hütter's side kept up their fantastic run of home form (six wins from seven) to top Les Gones.
With none of the three sides below them (OGC Nice, LOSC Lille and RC Strasbourg) able to pick up any points, Monaco with the victory moved on to 61 points, four clear of those three and a point behind Marseille after l'OM beat Le Havre. Thus, Les Monégasques secured for themselves at least third place, and with it a place in the league phase of next season's UEFA Champions League.
The stat: 39
AS Monaco have picked up 39 out of a possible 51 points at home this season, a figure bettered only by Paris Saint-Germain
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