Tops
Arrived in the summer of 2022 from Liverpool, Takumi Minamino spent a very disappointing first season with the rock club. Well revived by Adolf Hütter who appreciates his technical profile, the Japanese international is reborn from his ashes. He achieved a capital performance against Strasbourg in front of his audience. The former RB Salzburg player scored two goals, his first two at the Stade Louis II and delivered a superb assist to his sidekick Ben Yedder to seal the match. Against Strasbourg, Minamino won his starting spot and the hearts of his supporters,
Despite the controversy, Ben Yedder is off to a perfect start to his season with Monaco. Author of 19 achievements last season, the center forward of the club of the principality starts in the same standards with already three goals in two games. More discreet in the first half but precious in the quick combination, he weighed on the Strasbourg defense to the point of making his partner Minamino forget who was able to shine. Returning from the locker room, well served by the Japanese, the French international made his qualities as a finisher speak. A shot, a goal… Surgical.
Flops
Strasbourg made a pale copy against Monaco. From the start of the match, Patrick Vieira’s men suffered. Completely overwhelmed in the midfield battle, the Alsatians were suffocated by the high pressing of the Monegasques. Offensively, the attackers were unable to find themselves to bring danger to Philipp Köhn’s goals. Without solutions, the Strasbourgers suffered the whole match and got away with it rather well with only three goals conceded.
Usually so decisive, Matz Sels could not do anything against Monaco. Abandoned by his too lax defense and speeded up by the Monegasque assaults, the Belgian goalkeeper only made one save at the end of the game. Worse, AS Monaco’s first three shots on target ended up in the back of their net. The captain of the Alsatians also seemed extinguished and overwhelmed by the ardor of Hutter’s men, enough to undermine the morale of his partners.