Despite an early scare, AS Monaco hit Nantes for seven at the Stade Louis II on Saturday (7-1) as Mika Biereth netted another hat-trick.
The match ended with euphoria for Monaco but it began with a scare. Having lost back-to-back matches, Adi Hütter – and the players – were very much under the microscope, even more so when Matthis Abline opened the scoring in the fourth minute, profiting from some poor build-up play from Monaco deep within their own half.
But, despite trailing, they were handed a boost in the seventh minute with Nicolas Cozza given his marching records by the referee for a clumsy but not malicious studs-up challenge on Vanderson’s shin.
That man advantage, however, was not immediately put to good use. Nantes doubled down on their gameplan, sitting compact and hitting on the break but it worked to good effect. Abline and Moses Simon continued to wreak havoc, particularly the latter, who was not contained by Thilo Kehrer. Abline had another chance to double Les Canaris’ advantage but thereafter, Monaco seized the initiative.
4 goals in 10 minutes for Monaco
A quickfire double just before the break very much changed Adi Hütter’s teamtalk. Biereth got the first, stabbing home from close range and the second came just 69 seconds later. Lamine Camara found Takumi Minamino in behind who beat Anthony Lopes with a lobbed finish; it was far from the last time that the former Lyon goalkeeper would be picking the ball out of the back of the net.
Monaco came out with intent to kill the game early in the second half and they did just that. Eliesse Ben Seghir got the first before Biereth then doubled his account with another predator’s finish, popping up once again in the right place. Having scored four goals in the space of just 10 minutes either side of half-time, Nantes were in damage limitation mode, but the damage was not limited.
A “shameful” defeat for Nantes
Biereth attracted a foul from Nicolas Pallois inside the box and then stepped up to finish it himself, completing his hat trick. That is his seventh goal in Ligue 1 since joining from Sturm Graz last month. He is already the Principality club’s top-scorer in Ligue 1, despite playing just five matches in the competition.
George Ilenikhena then came off the bench to net a brace on his return from injury to round out the scoring and inflict Nantes’ heaviest-ever defeat in Ligue 1, described by Les Canaris manager Antoine Kombouaré as “shameful,” a “slap in the face,” and “an accident”.
“I am saddened by the record,” added the Nantes manager. Those emotions contrasted starkly with those expressed by Adi Hütter post-match, not that he was entirely satisfied either.
Monaco’s most comprehensive win under Hütter
“It was a horror start,” admitted Hütter, who added, “7-1, since I arrived here it is the highest score for us […] it was important to show a reaction.” That reaction was needed after a heavy defeat to PSG last weekend and a potentially decisive defeat to Benfica in the Champions League in midweek.
Hütter added that he doesn’t believe the 7-1 drubbing will have an impact on the return leg against Benfica in Lisbon on Tuesday but he will at least hope that there is momentum. It was – on paper – Monaco’s most emphatic victory under Hütter and one that can perhaps steer Les Monégasques back in the right direction with some crucial fixtures coming up.
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Photo source: AS Monaco
