Balogun saves Monaco's blushes in narrow win
On Matchday 6 in the Champions League, AS Monaco won 1-0 against Galatasaray, a result that lifted them to a provisional 18th place. Get the latest from Stade Louis-II with our match report.
A lively first half
After months with a crowded treatment table, AS Monaco approached this match with something like a full squad. Defenders Eric Dier and Christian Mawissa remained absent, as did Ansu Fati, but Sébastien Pocognoli was able to call on the rest of his first team, and welcomed back Folarin Balogun. His counterpart, Okan Buruk, was missing several key players including former Ligue 1 players Mario Lemina and Wilfried Singo, and both sides approached the match with plenty of intent.
Indeed, while the first half was lacking in goals, it was far from lacking in chances. The first two of note fell to the visitors, but both Ilkay Gundogan (13') and former LOSC Lille striker Victor Osimhen (16') were off-target with their efforts. Monaco would respond, though, as Magnes Akliouche forced the Turks' goalkeeper into a fine pair of saves (20', 30'). Galatasaray would end the first half in the ascendancy, though, with Lucas Hradecky making a sublime stop on Leroy Sané (34') to keep the game level at the break.
Folarin Balogun’s last three #UCL matches ✨🇺🇸
⚽️ Bodø/Glimt
⚽️ Pafos
⚽️ Galatasaray pic.twitter.com/e9ssFuJOv0— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 9, 2025
Heartbreak... and redemption
Into the second half, the intensity had barely dropped, and Takumi Minamno forced a save as well (48') moments before the referee pointed to the spot in favor of the Principality side. Denis Zakaria's effort was saved by Uğurcan Çakır, though, but the Monégasques were undeterred. First Folarin Baolgun shot just wide (62') before the American tapped in after Thilo Kehrer had knocked on a header from a corner.
It was Balogun's third goal in as many Champions League appearances, and despite the visitors' best efforts, it would prove enough to hold on for a 1-0 win. Now with just one loss in their six matches, Monaco have nine points, but are likely still to need a result from one of their final two league phase matches against Real Madrid and Liverpool. First, though, they'll take on Marseille in this weekend's big match before facing Auxerre in the Coupe de France to round out 2025.
