Mika Biereth singlehandedly swept aside a spirited Auxerre (4-2) as he netted an eight-minute hat-trick, allowing AS Monaco to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Inter Milan.
Monaco were looking to erase the memory of a midweek “nightmare” at the San Siro and return to winning ways. However, the task was not easy. Auxerre have a knack for frustrating big sides, as they did by comprehensively beating Marseille at the Vélodrome back in November, or even more recently, holding Champions League high-fliers Lille to a goalless draw.
They frustrated Monaco for much of the first half and – as they often do – looked to catch their opponents on the break. They almost did that on the 15-minute mark as Gaëtan Perrin rounded Radoslaw Majecki and tucked home. However, he didn’t time his run and was caught out by a tight offside.
“One of the worst halves since I arrived in Monaco” – Hütter
Instead, it was Monaco who took the lead midway through the half as Thilo Kehrer reacted quickest in a crowded box to blast home a volley and score from Les Monégasques’ only chance of the half.
But their lead lasted just three minutes. Sinaly Diomandé latched onto a lay-off, sending an outside-of-the-boot effort into the top corner. Auxerre then rallied, creating a flurry of half-chances before being gifted a bigger one on the stroke of half-time.
Denis Zakaria pulled down Jubal in the box and the Auxerre captain stepped up himself to take the penalty. However, he missed his initial effort, saved by Majecki, who had clumsily stepped off his line before the kick was taken. Jubal made the most of his reprieve, finishing the second effort.
“It was one of the worst first halves I have seen since I arrived in Monaco,” said Adi Hütter post-match. Changes at the break seemed a logical outcome and Auxerre manager Christophe Pélissier said that he anticipated Monaco’s three changes and subsequent formation change, not that his side could handle it. Importantly, Breel Embolo came on to partner Biereth, who had struggled to get in the game in the first half.
Hütter makes game-altering teamtalk
It was a game-changing tactical switch from Hütter as Biereth levelled the scores with a calm finish one-on-one. He then allowed the Principality club to retake the lead with a close-range volleyed finish that took a nick off the post on the way in. He then gave Monaco breathing room, latching onto the ball after Embolo had rounded Donovan Léon but ran the ball too far.
Biereth was on hand to finish, completing his hat-trick in just eight devastating minutes that put the game to bed. Ado Onaiwu hit the bar for Auxerre late on, whilst Embolo was foiled one-on-one. That miss was of no consequence as Monaco held on for what ultimately – on the face of it – looked a comfortable victory.
The reality was anything but. Hütter has his share of responsibility for the turnaround, even if Biereth’s “special” performance will take the headlines. It was the switch to two strikers and an inspired, “direct but calm” – in Kehrer’s words – half-time speech, that righted the ship.
PSG up next
“For sure, for Mika to score three goals is special. Today, Mika and Breel showed that they could play together. I have the feeling that there are opportunities there. I was impressed and there is big promise for the future,” said Hütter.
An “important” victory under Monaco’s belt, they head to the Parc des Princes looking to beat PSG, take revenge for their Trophée des Champions defeat and – perhaps – even relaunch an unlikely title challenge.
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Photo source: AS Monaco