Efficient in Rennes, AS Monaco win to go top!

Formidably efficient, the Rouge et Blanc were able to score with their only two shots on target to win at Roazhon Park and temporarily take top spot (1-2).

Brittany, and a win! Away to Rennes , the AS Monaco players were able to be efficient in both penalty areas in order to win 2-1, theit sixth victory of the season. Thilo Kehrer and Folarin Balogun were the two AS Monaco scorers this evening. ✍️

The context 📅

No respite for AS Monaco. Three days after a draw in Zagreb, our Rouge et Blanc were back in league action away to Stade Rennais. Joint leaders before this matchday, they woukd want to win to widen the gap on Marseille, who drew against Angers yesterday, and take top spot before PSG’s match. But we would have to be careful because the Bretons were undefeated at home this season.

They are a top team, especially at home where they are very solid, with two wins and a draw against Lens. They play very proactive football. In my opinion they are one of the best teams in the league, especially in front of their fans. So it will be a difficult match, and we will have to be ready for this challenge, but I think we are.

The eleven 👥

At kickoff, Adi Hütter decided to change the team’s system and lined up in a 3-4-3 for the first time this season. Wilfried Singo, Thilo Kehrer and Christian Mawissa played in defence, while Vanderson and Ouattara were the wingbacks. In attack, Folarin Balogun would be supported by Eliesse Ben Seghir and Takumi Minamino.

The scenario 🎞

In front of 600 supporters in the away end, the Rouge et Blanc made a fantastic start and opened the scoring through Thilo Kehrer with a header, who finished perfectly from a corner taken by Eliesse Ben Seghir (6′). Rennes’ response unfortunately came six minutes later through Ludovic Blas who sent a strong 30-meter shot into Philipp Köhn’s top corner (12′).

Three in a row for Balo’

The opponents’ equalizer had no impact on the Monaco players, though, as they moved forward again, and on another pass from the Moroccan international, Folarin Balogun beat Östigard to the ball and scored a chipped finish over Steve Mandanda (22′). It was his third consecutive league match with a goal and Eliesse’s second assist in this match!

The match was intense but the chances were few and far between in the first half. However, it took a save from the Rouge et Blanc goalkeeper on a Truffert strike in added time (45+6′) to allow his teammates to take the lead at half-time, 1-2.

A story of posts

The second half started on the same basis and the 49th minute was completely crazy. With a strike from the edge of the area, Eliesse “on fire” Ben Seghir hit the crossbar then on the next move, it was Arnaud Kalimuendo’s turn to hit Köhn’s post. Mikayil Faye then tried his luck, but his effort flashed over (55′).

The coach then made several changes, including the entry of Krépin Diatta, who celebrated his 100th appearance in La Diagonale. The Monegasques gave their all to maintain their advantage, so much so that Christian Mawissa and Lamine Camara were limited by cramp and had to give up their places to Mohammed Salisu and Soungoutou Magassa (83′).

Top spot secured!

Adi Hütter’s men demonstrated perfect management at the end of the match and managed to keep the ball in the Rennes half. They even came close to tripling the lead but a header from George Ilenikhena was wide (93′), as was one by Ostigaard in the next minute (94′).

It was the last chance of the match and the referee whistlesd the end of the match for a Monaco victory by the score of 1-2. With this victory, their sixth in seven matches, AS Monaco were provisionally leaders! Now, it’s time for a two-week international break before the return of league play in a big match against Lille (Friday October 18, 9 p.m.).

Key moments 🎥

6′: Kehrer scores from a corner on an assist from Ben Seghir (0-1)
12′ Rennes equalizes with a well-taken shot by Blas (1-1)
22′: Balogun’s chipped ball ends up in the back of the net (1-2)
45+6′: Köhn taps away Truffert’s shot
49′ Ben Seghir hits the crossbar with a shot from 18 meters
49′: Kalimuendo’s curling shot hits the post
55′: Faye’s shot is over the bar
93′: Ilenikhena’s header goes wide
94′: Ostigaard’s header is over

The stat 📊

Decisive again at Rhoazhon Park, Eliesse Ben Seghir has been involved in 5 goals in his last 8 Ligue 1 matches (3 goals, 2 assists).

📋 Match details:

Saturday, October 5 (21:00) – Roazhon Park

Ligue 1 – Matchday 7: Stade Rennais 1-2 AS Monaco 

Halftime: 1-2

Goals: Blas (12′) for Rennes; Kehrer (7′), Balogun (22′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Blas (44′), Assignon (75′) for Rennes; Zakaria (45+6′), Ouattara (57′), Minamino (72′), Köhn (86′) for AS Monaco

Stade Rennais: Mandanda – Hateboer, Seidu, Ostigard, Faye (Assignon, 71′), Truffert (Nagida, 80′) – Matusiwa, Kamara (Gomez, 71′), Blas, Gronbaek (Gouiri, 45+3′) – Kalimuendo (Jota, 80′)

Substitutes: Gallon, Assignon, Nagida, Wooh, James, Santamaria, Gomez, Gouiri, Jota