Tops
Among the elegant players in Ligue 1, the Russian number 10 is at the top of the basket. Very fit since the start of the championship, he showed all his class this afternoon to get Monaco out of a bad situation. Golovin could hardly have dreamed of a better double. A magnificent strike placed in the top corner of poor Oukidja followed by a millimeter free kick which offered the second goal to ASM with the help of the post. Still technically comfortable, the 27-year-old is the big man of this meeting. If he maintains this consistency throughout the season, without going through the infirmary, the Monegasques will be able to have great ambitions.
Before Golovin, it was the Metz playmaker who surprised everyone by scoring one of the goals of the year without a doubt. After four minutes of play, the Senegalese midfielder deceived the Monegasque goalkeeper Köhn with an exceptional 60-meter lob after a recovery at the feet of Fofana. Coming to defend, FC Metz found itself very early with an unexpected advantage. This inspiration forgotten, the Garnets suffered the events until logically bowing. The promoted player leaves with zero points from the Principality but Camara will remember this trip for a long time.
Scorer this week with the French junior team during the historic defeat against Cyprus (9-0), the young Monegasque started on the bench this Sunday. Launched at the break by Adi Hütter, in place of Camara, he made perfect use of his playing time, being at the initiative of numerous attacking situations. Akliouche even treated his supporters to several clever technical gestures and the Messins had all the difficulty in the world to stop him. He could even have scored from afar (63rd) to complete a very promising performance, in line with his last successful outings, both in the red and white jersey and with the Bleuets.
Flops
For once, the ASM offensive double remained silent in the face of the rough Metz defense. With very little space to express themselves, Balogun and Ben Yedder narrowly missed the mark in the last move. Generous in the calls, the American wasted several balls due to bad choices while the French captain, rarely found between the lines, had nothing to sink his teeth into apart from a difficult volley which escaped the target. Paired together for the fourth time, the two finishers left the match frustrated. Without consequence all the same for Monaco.
László Bölöni’s men knew they would suffer on the Rock. In full doubt, the Mosellans nevertheless managed to lead thanks to Camara before going close to 2-1 after returning from the locker room on two rare forays. Tetteh, launched quickly to compensate for Estupinan’s injury, did not deceive Köhn. Then Jean-Jacques, in turn, appeared alone in front of goal without being able to finish. The promotion’s luck had passed. Now a barrage and on a series of four defeats in a row, Metz will quickly have to raise its head by offering, if possible, better offensively.
