Tops
Minamino again and again him. Since the start of the season, the Japanese has shone and dazzled his club with his class, his talent and his efficiency. Invisible and disappointing last year for his first season with the Principality club, since the arrival of Adi Hütter the former Reds has risen from the ashes. Author of three goals and two assists in three games, he has just added a new offering to his personal tally for his fourth match with Monaco this season. In addition to these numbers that make you dizzy, the former Salzburg is also creating most chances. Going from undesirable to ASM centerpiece, Takumi Minamino is undoubtedly the most beautiful surprise of this start to the season.
Already decisive against Nantes and Strasbourg, Caio Henrique confirms that he is one of the best in our championship in his position. The Brazilian left-back is solid in defense and dangerous in attack. Most of ASM’s offensives have been on their left side with Golovin and Minamino constantly swapping around the 26-year-old piston. Excellent in the game with a touch of the ball and blessed with a magical left foot, Henrique offered two corner offerings to Singo (24th) and Maripan (59th) to open the scoring and fold the game.
Flops
With only one point in four games (3 losses and 1 draw), RC Lens is in provisional 17th place in Ligue 1. Last year at the same stage, the Sangs et Or already had 10 points and were still undefeated. Even if it’s still too early to worry, in a season with 18 clubs and a similar descent system (two directs and a play-off) it’s better not to distance themselves too quickly, especially when Franck Haise’s players go having to chain the matches with the start of the Champions League. The next meetings will be important, Lens will inherit on the team paper a little weaker with a sequence of Metz, Toulouse and Strasbourg.
It’s not the size that matters. With Danso (190cm), Medina (184cm) and Gradit (180cm), the Sangs et Or hinge is not the smallest in Ligue 1, and yet the trio have lost almost all of their aerial duels. Beyond the two goals from a corner, with two duels lost from the head, on the stopped phases, RC Lens seems completely lost. On the goal of Maripan, the Chilean considered dangerous of the head was completely forgotten in the axis. Same thing on Monegasque free kicks which almost systematically brought danger to Brice Samba’s cage.
