Dujeux’s reputation grows
Alexandre Dujeux was playing to type, frustrating another big side. He made his name at Angers by making good sides look distinctly average. He has continued that tradition at Lorient, notably securing wins against Lens and Paris FC, both considered to be sides in Champions League qualification contention.
Against a side that contained Ansu Fati and Takumi Minamino in its line-up for the first time this season in Ligue 1, Lorient more than held their own. Aleksandr Golovin went closest for the Principality club with a long-range effort that curled tantalisingly wide of Yvon Mvogo’s goal. Lorient failed to test Lukas Hradecky, despite threatening.
It took only 35 seconds into the second half for a goalkeeper to finally be tested, with Matthis Abline heading at Mvogo. The former Nantes forward couldn’t generate the power to beat the Swiss goalkeeper. When Hradecky was finally solicited, the odds were against him making the save.
Dembo Sylla burst through the defence and into the Lorient box before being brought down by a combination of Nazinho and Denis Zakaria. Both were booked. Noah Cadiou stepped up and converted, despite Hradecky going the right way. The unbeaten run under threat, Folarin Balogun, Mathys Detourbet, and Mika Biereth all came on.
Balogun was at the heart of Monaco’s most dangerous moments, heading down for Golovin, who was inches away from a simple finish, and flicking an Edan Diop cross goalbound. Once again, Mvogo was positioned well to easily gather.
Luís critical of Monaco’s lack of intensity
Sylla ran rings around Nazinho, and he did the same with his replacement, Christian Mawissa. It was the Lorient winger who almost secured the points for Lorient, striking the post. On the follow-up, Arsene Kouassi forced Hradecky into his first save of the game and Mamadou Koné, with the goal gaping, blazed over.
The one goal was enough. The Moustoir is not a happy hunting ground for Les Monégasques. The last time they won here was in 2021. That is now five games against Les Merlus without a win for Monaco, who have now lost all of their last three against this opponent.
“We were a bit too relaxed with the ball. We needed more energy and intensity in ball circulation,” reacted Luís post-match. That was a particular issue after the penalty, the Brazilian admitted: “Lorient are a good team that defend low and compactly. There weren’t many chances before the goal, and after the penalty everything was more difficult.”
Luís has repeated that he likes it when the matches come thick and fast and he doesn’t have long to wait to have an opportunity to return to winning ways. Freiburg, in an identical posture, await them at the Stade Louis II on Thursday.