Monaco offers itself the shock. After two victories in a row, Stade de Reims suffered the law of ASM (1-3) this Saturday, at Stade Auguste-Delaune, during the eighth day of Ligue 1. Ismail Jakobs, Folarin Balogun and Wissam Ben Yedder allowed the Monegasques to take off before the goal of hopeful Teddy Teuma for the SDR. With this new victory, the players from the Principality retain the benefit of first place in the ranking. They could possibly be joined by Brest on Sunday, but the Bretons have a much less favorable goal difference (10 against 2). Reims appears in fourth position before the rest of the program.
In good shape since the start of the season, Rémois and Monegasques engaged in a real fight, disputed and rich in opportunities. In front of its home crowd, the Stade de Reims shook up Monaco from the start with the ingredients that make it strong: intensity, pressing and speed. Under the leadership of Ito, Will Still’s players undermined the ASM defense, saved by their goalkeeper Köhn on Nakamura’s shot from close range (14th). Adi Hütter’s team initially suffered before getting their heads above water as the minutes passed, like their captain Ben Yedder. While Balogun wore down his old partners in depth, the French international striker broke away to organize the game. The opening of the Monegasque score came from him, a passer for Diatta who found Jakobs at the far post (0-1, 42nd) . Dominant in the midfield, Reims was punished after several poorly negotiated dangerous situations, Nakamura, Munetsi and Daramy lacking precision in the last move despite very good offensive intentions.
Effectively, ASM took the lead at the break before knocking out their opponent twice in quick succession to seal (or almost) the suspense. At the start of the second half, Balogun doubled the lead, his shot deflected by Abdelhamid deceiving Diouf (0-2, 46th). The American, who passed through Reims last year, preferred not to celebrate a goal which really hurt the heads of Champagne. Three minutes later, Ben Yedder made it 3-0 with a header from a cross from Jakobs (0-3, 49th). The locals were affected but not completely sunk, Teuma reducing the gap on a penalty after a foul by Matsima on Munetsi (1-3, 57th). In the last half hour, the Red and Whites tried everything, Ito struggled but the Monegasque defense was imperial in its penalty area. Maripan reigned in the air until the end. Ben Yedder (65th) and Minamino (77th), who came on in place of Golovin, even missed the 1-4 in front of Diouf. In the opposing cage, Köhn also reassured, making a final save in front of Diakité (91st). At the end of a very good Ligue 1 match, which justified the good ranking of both teams, Monaco had the last word.