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Day: 20 September 2024

Football: Monaco get the better of Barcelona in the battle of the prestigious academies

by: Luke Entwistle
20/09/2024
Saimon Bouabré on the ball as AS Monaco's academy take on Barcelona in La Turbie.

Before the main event took place on Thursday evening, AS Monaco beat Barcelona (4-3) to get their UEFA Youth League campaign off to the perfect start in La Turbie.

It was one of the graduates from Monaco’s prestigious La Diagonale academy, Maghnes Akliouche, who netted the opener in the senior side’s 2-1 victory over Barcelona inside a packed Stade Louis II. The likes of Saimon Bouabré, John Tincres and Mayssam Benama dream of following a similar trajectory asthe France youth international; Bouabré in particular showed that he has the technical ability to do so in the future, but it was a strong collective performance that allowed Monaco to defeat arguably the most prestigious academy in world football – La Masia.

Besides the swathes of physical and technical quality, Djimi Traoré’s displayed their mental fortitude in a match in which they had to twice come from behind. Despite starting with intensity, it was Barcelona who took the lead through Arnau Pradas, before Hugo Alba then doubled the Spanish side’s lead from the spot.

Joan Tincres in action for AS Monaco. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

It was an uphill battle to get back into the match but Les Monégasques finished the first half with a flourish. Nick Mokabakila found Tincres at the back post and, buoyed by halving the deficit, the highly impressive Bouabré drew Monaco level with a sumptuous curling effort. That quickfire double saw Monaco head into the break level, however, there was once again a drop-off upon the return from the dressing room.

It was a lack of coordination and intensity in the press that allowed Barcelona to re-seize control of the fixture. “One of our principles of play is to try and win the ball high, go and press them,  but when you’re late in doing so, that hurts […] when you’re playing against strong sides, you have to choose the right moments to go and press,” reflected Traoré post-match.

In front of the onlooking Deco and Bojan Krkic, both legends of La Masia, Pedro Fernandez Sarmiento put Barcelona back in the lead. However, Monaco’s response was immediate. It was once again Mokabakila who found Tincres in the box, with the latter making no mistake with his finish.

Lorenzo Carvalho celebrates his match winner against Barcelona. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Then, with the game seemingly drifting towards a draw, Tincres, scorer of a brace, turned the provider, sliding through Lorenzo Carvalho, who kept his composure to put Monaco 4-3 up and secure the win. “It was a big challenge to play against a team like Barcelona […] they hurt us but we showed a lot of character; that is what I liked,” reacted Traoré.

That “character” will also have impressed club CEO Thiago Scuro, who was in attendance alongside president Dmitry Rybolovlev and technical director Carlos Aviña. Their presence highlights the continued importance of developing players at AS Monaco, and just like the former Diagonale players who shone under the bright lights against Barcelona on Thursday night, the next generation will be looking to accelerate their development over the course of this UEFA Youth League campaign – next up, Dinamo Zagreb.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo credit: Luke Entwistle, Monaco Life

Football: Monaco upset Barcelona to ensure triumphant Champions League return

by: Luke Entwistle
20/09/2024
Akliouche celebrates with his Monaco teammates as they take the lead against Barcelona in the Champions League.

It has been six years since AS Monaco were in the Champions League, and seven years since they won a match in a competition. That run came to an end against Barcelona in what was a euphoric night at the Stade Louis II. 

“I’ll have goosebumps when the [Champions League] anthem rings out,” said manager Adi Hütter pre-match. Whilst there was certainly an element of awe as Champions League football returned to a sold-out Stade Louis II, Monaco’s players quickly applied themselves to the task at hand.

In front of a star-studded crowd, which included the likes of Michael Jordan, Didier Deschamps and Prince Albert II, Les Monégasques had what can only be described as the perfect start. The same intensity that has guided the Principality club to third in Ligue 1 was on display and provoked the first key moment of the match.

Akliouche overcomes ‘goosebumps’ to give Monaco perfect start

Takumi Minamino picked Eric García’s pocket on the edge of the box. The Spaniard, almost instinctively, hauled the Japan international to the ground, leaving the referee without any choice but to brandish a red card. Monaco’s evening would get better just minutes later as Maghnes Akliouche, on his Champions League debut, cut inside and finished past a stranded Marc-André Ter Stegen.

Like Akliouche, he also admitted to having “goosebumps” during the anthem, but like his manager and the rest of his teammates, he put his emotions aside to get the job done. “I think I did what I had to this evening,” said the France U21 international.

However, nervousness kicked in. Monaco, until then, had been the underdogs; it was a tag that suited them. But they were now the favourites. The intensity dropped and Barcelona equalised.

Hütter was so concerned about Lamine Yamal running the show that he started Vanderson, a right-back, over on the left. But the Monaco full-back, in an unfamiliar position, couldn’t prevent Yamal from getting on the scoresheet. The 17-year-old, who lit up the Euros with Spain equalised with a near-identical finish to Akliouche’s just moments earlier.

Monaco had possession, were well set, but failed to create anything other than half-chances. Barcelona, who have won all five of their games in La Liga, scoring 17 goals in the process, looked dangerous on the break. “It sometimes isn’t an advantage when you have an extra player,” said Hütter. For a long time, it showed.

But with the game drifting, the Austrian manager made a game-changing intervention. Off came the ineffective Breel Embolo, and on came George Ilenikhena. Folarin Balogun then made his entrance moments later. The duo wreaked havoc and it was the former who got the winner.

Vanderson, who struggled defensively at times, picked out Ilenikhena’s well-timed run with a sublime cross-field path. The summer signing, baring down on goal then beat ter Stegen to restore Les Monégasques’ lead.

‘Winning against Barça, one of the biggest clubs in the world, makes us proud’ – Hütter

In the lead, looking for their first Champions League in 15 attempts, therewas certainly nervousness; Hütter himself admitted that there were “some situations” where that was the case, but he emphasised his side’s bravery, both pre and post-match, and that above all was on show as they held out for the three points.

“I am really proud and really happy. I am happy for the club and the fans. I think we deserved to win this match for sure tonight. Winning against Barça, one of the biggest clubs in the world, makes us proud and gives us confidence,” reacted Hütter.

“Tonight is for celebrating,” he added. It is a victory that will go down as one of Monaco’s greatest in recent history and it will be savoured. But this “brave” and youthful team looks more than capable of producing more magic moments over the course of this Champions League campaign.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

 

Photo credit: AS Monaco