Football: AS Monaco concede late equaliser against Lens amid pitch controversy

AS Monaco's Denis Zakaria celebrates by gesturing to the crowd at the Stade Louis II after giving his side a late lead against Lens

AS Monaco remain unbeaten in Ligue 1 this season after a draw against RC Lens (1-1) amid sweltering conditions on a damaged pitch at the Stade Louis II on Sunday.

Conditions weren’t easy in Monaco. Adi Hütter was critical of the LFP’s decision to hold the match at 15:00. Whilst the 900 Lens fans, uncovered in the away area, were sprayed down by the fire services, the players struggled too, with many of them struggling with cramp towards the end of the encounter.

Lens manager accuses Stade Louis II pitch of causing injury

Whilst weather conditions were difficult, the state of the Stade Louis II pitch, for which AS Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro apologised post-match, also made life tough for the players, who had to adapt their game accordingly. “Thank you to the pitch,” retorted Lens’ Anglo-Belgian manager Will Still post-match, attributing the state of the turf to Anass Zaroury’s sprained ankle.

Hütter admitted that Monaco “weren’t at the level” that they showed against Saint-Étienne and Lyon, as they went in search of their third win of the season against Lens. Whilst Monaco began brightly, creating a series of half-chances, it was Lens who would have been the more disappointed not to have gone into the break ahead.

Adrien Thomasson hit the post midway through the first half. With Philipp Köhn taken out of the game and with the goal gaping, Wesley Saïd could only manage to hit the same post. A huge let-off for Les Monégasques. It wasn’t the last.

Monaco had their chances too, but they couldn’t truly test Brice Samba in the Lens goal. Maghnes Akliouche should have done better when put through on goal, but his poor touch allowed Jhoanner Chavez to recover and make the block.

In energy-sapping conditions, the game went into a lull, from which it seemed it wouldn’t re-emerge. But it did. A mistake from Christian Mawissa, making his first start for the Principality club, allowed Lens to take the lead through Rémy Labeau Lascary, however, with the game set to re-start, referee Willy Delajod was sent to the screen, where he detected a barely perceptible handball in the build-up.

Lens draw ‘logical’, according to Hütter

There was a collective sigh of relief and a big cheer from the 9,000 fans inside the Stade Louis II as the goal was disallowed. They would make the most of their reprieve with the imperious Denis Zakaria rising highest from a corner to nod Monaco in front with just minutes remaining.

However, Monaco couldn’t hold on. Having benefitted from VAR’s intervention just minutes earlier, they were on the receiving end of a dubious call as Zakaria was adjudged to have handled within the box. It was a harsh decision, but as Przemyslaw Frankowski stepped up to level the scores in the 93rd minute, there was an acceptance that their equaliser was deserved, with the game ending 1-1.

“The score was logical,” admitted Hütter post-match. “We would have been very lucky if we had got the three points. Lens showed they were a good team,” added the Austrian.

Monaco to change Stade Louis II pitch – Scuro

The players now head in their seperate directions with the international break upcoming. Scuro confirmed that, when they return, there will be a new pitch at the Stade Louis II – much to the relief of all parties, including European giants Barcelona, who travel to the iconic Monégasque stadium later this month.

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Photo source: AS Monaco

F1: Glory for Leclerc and the tifosi at Monza

Monegasque Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has taken his second win of the 2024 F1 season, speeding to victory on the team’s home track in Monza after pulling off a spectacular one-stop race.  

After winning on his home circuit in Monaco in May, 26-year-old Charles Leclerc has achieved another stunning victory, this time at the Italian Grand Prix in Monza.

“Monaco and Monza are always the two races I want to win each season. They are special races and I have won both of them this year,” said a smiling Leclerc in a post-race interview, before sharing a few words in Italian for the tifosi who cheered him on throughout the race. 

In the latter stages of the race on Sunday 1st September, the roar of the crowd came close to overpowering the sound of the cars and, as Leclerc mounted the podium for the Monegasque national anthem and then the Italian national anthem, the noise from the crowd was incredibly powerful.  

See more: Charles Leclerc documents “dream” Monaco GP win in new vlog

Leclerc and the team in the Ferrari garage made the daring decision to attempt a one-stop race, a gamble that certainly paid off.  

“I was not surprised you stayed out,” McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, who finished in P2, said to Leclerc after the race, “but I was surprised you survived!” 

McLaren’s Lando Norris, who had started in pole, rounded out the podium. He admitted that neither of the McLaren cars could have managed to do the same.  

Leclerc’s teammate, Carlos Sainz, who also made only one pit stop, came in fourth. The results added some important points to both teams’ tallies in the Constructor Standings as they try to chase down Red Bull for the title. McLaren is closest to the current leader, with just eight points between the team and Red Bull, compared to Ferrari’s 39.  

Leclerc, who won the fans’ Driver of the Day, is third in the Driver Standings behind Norris in second and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in first place.  

Read related:

F1: Charles Leclerc brings home the win at the Monaco Grand Prix

 

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Photo credit: Scuderia Ferrari Media Centre

Picnics, parties and support groups: all the community events in Monaco this September

From family-friendly fun to live music evenings and literary events, the Mairie de Monaco has lots lined up for the month of September. Here are some of the highlights. 

Two events will be taking place on Wednesday 4th September. Firstly, there’s the final free scuba diving initiation session at Stade Nautique Rainier III, which you can read all about here. Secondly, there will be a meeting for family caregivers in the Principality at the Espace Lamartine from 5pm. The group aims to provide information and support to those caring for loved ones with health issues or disabilities. The event is free, but prior registration is required. For more information, contact +377 93 15 28 35. 

The traditional U Cavagnëtu picnic will be held at Princess Antoinette Park on Saturday 7th September. This event, which is exclusively for Monegasques and their families, will commence with a mass at 6.20pm. 

See more: U Cavagnëtu picnic invitations extended to all Monegasques and their families

On Friday 13th September at 12.15pm, the Louis Notari Library, in collaboration with the Prince Pierre Foundation of Monaco, will host a literary café. The same venue will hold a film club meeting at 6.30pm on Thursday 19th September. The focus of this second event, led by Yves Gasiglia, will be Don Siegel’s The Lineup (1958). 

On Saturday 14th September, the Condamine Market will host the Bal du Marché, with live music by the Benty Brothers, from 7.30pm.  

Read more: Tickets now available for the Condamine’s Bal du Marché

On Friday 20th September at 7pm, the Princess Caroline Library will be the centre of fun and games as it puts on its popular Games Night. The event is free to attend, but registration is required. 

The Princess Caroline Library will also host activities for the little ones on Wednesday 18th and Wednesday 25th September. The first occasion, from 3pm to 4pm, will be a workshop at which parents and children can create a ‘tooth box’ together. It is suitable for those aged three and up. The second event, also from 3pm until 4pm, will be all about storytelling. 

Then, at 6.30pm on Friday 27th September, Bernard Guiraud will present a conference titled ‘Once upon a time there was Ennio Morricone’ at the Louis Notari Library. The event will explore the works of the Italian composer through film excerpts and musical analysis. Admission is free. For more information, contact +377 93 15 29 40. 

Additionally, every Tuesday at 12.15pm throughout the month of September, there will be a picnic music session at the José Notari Library, where attendees can enjoy a concert on a big screen during their lunch break. This event is free and open to all. 

For more information about any of these events, click here.

 

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Photo credit: Mairie de Monaco