ligue1-logo
Match Reports

Recap: Pogba makes first start, Monaco consign Metz to Ligue 2

A stoppage time winner from Ansu Fati helped AS Monaco stay in the race for Europe and consign FC Metz to Ligue 2 on Saturday evening at the Stade Saint-Symphorien
E. DEVIN
Published on 05/02/2026 at 19:00
3-minute read
Paul Pogba made his first start for AS Monaco in Ligue 1 McDonald's this season against FC Metz.

A stoppage time winner from Ansu Fati helped AS Monaco stay in the race for Europe and consign FC Metz to Ligue 2 on Saturday evening at the Stade Saint-Symphorien

A closely-fought first half

It was a momentous occasion in Metz as Sébastien Pocognoli handed Paul Pogba his first start of the season, the veteran French international having shown impressive development in his battle to return to fitness. With Pogba back in, Monaco played a 3-4-3 with captain Denis Zakaria dropping into defence and Christian Mawissa coming in for Wout Faes. Monaco would be looking to take advantage of Olympique de Marseille's shock loss to FC Nantes earlier in the day while the hosts needed a result to keep their already slim hopes of survival alive. 

The first half was low on opportunities, though, even with both sides needing a result. Monaco seemed to struggle to be on the same wavelength in the attacking third, and the first real chance wouldn't come until 28 minutes, with Maghnes Akliouche dragging a shot wide with Simon Adingra and Folarin Balogun looking for a cross. The chance seemed to light a fire under the hosts, though, and Jessy Deminguet was cleverly picked out by Gauthier Hein (29'), but his effort was off-target, before Hein himself dragged a shot wide, leaving the match scoreless at the break.   

Ansu Fati makes the difference

Just after the interval, on 50 minutes, the hosts would surprisingly take the lead, as Deminguet scored with a header across goal on a ball in from the right. Having scored, Metz continued to threaten, and Monaco were grateful to see youngster Nathan Mbala fire over the bar on the break (52'). Just past the hour, though it was in-form Folarin Balogun who would haul the Principality side back in to the match, the American finding the corner after a fine through ball by Akliouche.

Eight minutes later, Monaco had a golden opportunity to take the lead, but substitute Mamadou Coulibaly missed a volley from close range. Seeing their chances of survival rapidly disappearing, Metz pressed for a second goal and thought they had a penalty (71') after Giorgi Kvilitaia was brought down on the break. VAR confirmed the referee's decision, but still Les Grenats pushed for a second, with Hein then forcing a good save from Lukas Hradecky on the break (76') before hitting the post (80'). In added time, though, Monaco would find a winner as a pair of substitutes combined, with Caio Henrique marking his return from a long injury layoff by setting up Ansu Fati, the Spanish winger scoring his tenth goal of the season (90 + 2') to take Monaco sixth, ahead of Marseille.  

The stat: 6

Ansu Fati has scored six goals for AS Monaco off the bench -- only Antoine Griezmann and Robert Lewandoski have scored more goals as a substitute in the big five European leagues this season.

Read more:

>> PSG stumble against Lorient

>> Nantes keep survival hopes alive with shock win over Marseille

ligue1-logo
Squads overview