Maghnes Akliouche netted a brace as AS Monaco prepared for Wednesday night’s Champions League encounter with Benfica with a hard-earned 3-2 win over Brest at the Stade Louis II on Friday.
Both Monaco and Brest are currently flying high in the Champions League having enjoyed unbeaten starts to their respective campaigns. However, only one side showed their true level in the first half.
A “nightmare night” for Brest
Brest, too passive, were cut open by Monaco’s first meaningful attack of the match with Eliesse Ben Seghir combining with fellow academy product Maghnes Akliouche for the opener. It was the latter who provided the finishing touch for his first, but not his last, of the night.
Brest’s “nightmare night”, in the words of Eric Roy, got worse in the 20-minute mark with key player Pierre Lees-Melou forced off with an injury, returning for the second-half on crutches. By 25 minutes, Les Pirates were two goals down thanks to Aleksandr Golovin’s finish following a misplaced pass from Lees-Melou’s replacement Edimilson Fernandes.
“It was his first of the season so very happy for ‘Golo’,” said Adi Hütter post-match. It wasn’t only his first goal of the season but his first goal contribution, a fact that has gone under the radar amid the exploits of Ben Seghir and Akliouche.
Monaco let Brest back in
Breel Embolo could – and should – have made it 3-0 just before the break but he blasted over after some good work from Ben Seghir to get to the by-line, much to the frustration of Hütter. “We were guilty of letting them back in. There was a big chance for 3-0 and 2-0 is always a difficult score,” said the Austrian.
As Hütter points out, the 2-0 scoreline at half-time represented a fragile dominance and it didn’t take much for Brest to apply the pressure. “In the second half, we showed our level,” said Roy, whose decision to bring on Kamory Doumbia allowed Brest to unsettle the Monaco defence.
Just five minutes into the second half, the Breton side reduced the deficit through Abdallah Sima. Chances were, however, at a premium for the visitors. When they came, they had to be taken, but they weren’t. Mama Baldé had a golden chance to equalise but, under pressure from Christian Mawissa, he blasted over.
With temperatures rising and Roy sent to the stands having been shown a red card for throwing his cap in disgust about a refereeing decision, “throwing your hat is now sanctionable”, he quipped, Monaco seized control once again.
Akliouche an “international-level player” – Hütter
George Ilenikhena forced Marco Bizot into a strong save but he was beaten shortly after. It was Ilenikhena who slipped Akliouche in and the latter pulled out a deft chip to settle the game. Ludovic Ajorque netted a late consolsation, but in vain as Monaco keep up the chase with Ligue 1 leaders PSG.
Naturally, Akliouche’s performance was the talking point post-match. “He has made a huge progression. For me, he is an international-level player,” began Hütter.
“He can be happy that he is an example [of our academy], the same as Eliesse, who came from the Groupe Élite and is now with the pros. When I arrived last season, I saw he was a talent but when you are up front or a No.10, you have to bring stats, and set-up or score goals. He brings us lots of stats. With two goals, he was for sure the key player tonight,” added the Monaco manager.
It is a result that keeps the pressure on PSG, whilst keeping Marseille at arm’s length and one that also gives them confidence ahead of a Champions League match against Benfica, in which they can state their top-eight credentials.
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Photo source: AS Monaco