Champions League: Monaco do enough against Juventus to reach the play-offs

AS Monaco secured their place in the Champions League play-offs after holding Juventus to a goalless draw at the Stade Louis-II on the final matchday of the league phase. A disciplined and dominant display was enough for the Principality club, who bounced back well from last week’s heavy defeat in Madrid.

Monaco on the front foot

Needing at least a point to preserve their European hopes, Monaco started with intent. Sébastien Pocognoli’s side pressed high and controlled possession, with Vanderson, Akliouche and Golovin combining well down the right flank. The first clear chance fell Monaco’s way when Philipp Perin made a costly error in his distribution, but Akliouche failed to capitalise with the goal at his mercy.

Folarin Balogun thought he had opened the scoring midway through the first half after latching onto a precise through ball from Vanderson, but the striker’s effort was correctly ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Monaco continued to push, Perin producing a fine save to deny Vanderson’s powerful strike, while Balogun and Coulibaly both wasted promising transitions.

Juventus threaten, Monaco hold firm

Juventus gradually grew into the contest, with Loïs Openda the main danger for the visitors. The former Lens forward went close shortly before the break, curling narrowly wide after slipping past Thilo Kehrer. At half-time, the score remained 0–0 – a result that kept Monaco just inside the qualification places as results elsewhere fluctuated.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Monaco remained the more proactive side, circulating the ball well and forcing Juventus deep, but without finding the clinical touch required to break the deadlock. Perin again stood firm to deny Jordan Teze and Balogun, while Philipp Köhn was largely untroubled at the other end.

The Stat: clean sheet gal0re

Monaco have kept three clean sheets in a row at home in major European competition for the first time since another run of three between September and December 2014 in the UEFA Champions League group stages.