The match: 1-2
Rennes was looking to get back on track, Monaco to reassure itself, but the first poster this Saturday in Ligue 1 mainly pitted two cautious teams against each other, surely inhibited by the fear of a negative result. Despite its fragile rearguard and the numerous yellow cards taken by its defenders at Roazhon Park (five including two for Vanderson, who was sent off), ASM recalled that it was a top-of-the-table team. She achieved, on Breton soil, a second success in a row (2-0), six days after that against Montpellier (2-0).
Adi Hütter’s players were also the most visible during a very dull first period. Often launched against or more skilful in set phases, they had situations, much more in any case than Rennes who did not have a shot on target before the break. In turn, Singo from afar (5th), Salisu with a header (9th), Golovine from a free kick (19th), Fofana also with a header (41st) and Vanderson, author of a low shot (45th+2) , kept Mandanda under pressure.
The international goalkeeper had to give in during the start of the second half which was still to the advantage of the Principality team. Cleverly served by Balogun, Vanderson scored with a cross shot in the second half of an action from the left lane (1-0, 51st). And then Rennes started to give up less ground. To try. Without finding the target (Santamaria, 58th; Bourigeaud, 71st) but putting the opposing defenders in difficulty, who accumulated the cards. Notably Vanderson, who collected two (54th, 75th), and the expulsion of the Brazilian changed the balance of power in this match. Minamino had to struggle to clear a hot ball in his area (78th) and Köhn had to work on a header from Theate (79th), already dangerous in the first period (10th).
But it was ASM who finished the best, like captain Youssouf Fofana who took advantage of Theate’s passivity to score with a precise low shot (2-0, 85th). The epilogue of an ideal scenario for the Rocher club? Almost. Fofana conceded a penalty transformed by Bourigeaud (2-1, 90th). But this late goal will not change the result: Monaco climbs to second place in the standings, three points behind PSG which faces Nantes this Saturday evening. Julien Stéphan’s Rennes suffered a second defeat after the one conceded to Marseille (0-2).
6
AS Monaco have won each of the Ligue 1 matches where they opened the scoring this season.
The fact: when Köhn deprives Nagida of an unexpected equalizer
He is not yet known to all the supporters of Roazhon Park but Mahamadou Nagida almost made a name for himself in his first match in Brittany. Already seen for just half an hour against Maccabi Haifa, on neutral ground in the Europa League (3-0, November 30), the 18-year-old Cameroonian left back was very close to offering a memorable equalizer to his team. The score was in the 93rd minute when the young man unleashed a powerful cross-court shot which should have ended under the bar had it not been for a phenomenal tap from Köhn.
Even if they are fortunately not similar to those of Alexander Nübel, his predecessor in the Monegasque goal, the performances of the Swiss goalkeeper are regularly singled out. As during the heavy defeat suffered in Paris (2-5). But this time, he was vigilant from start to finish, also making a nice save against Arthur Theate (79th). Only a penalty could ultimately beat him this Saturday.