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