Neither side will have left the Stade Louis II entirely satisfied after AS Monaco and OGC Nice saw out a 2-2 draw in the Côte d’Azur derby on Sunday evening.

Neither side were going particularly well going into this game, and the fiercely contested 90 minutes failed to kick-start either’s season. A draw against Manchester City in midweek somewhat papers over the cracks at Monaco, who are yet to have a convincing 90-minute display in Ligue 1; Nice, meanwhile, came into the game with just two wins in 10 games in all competitions. Out of the Champions League at the qualifying rounds, without a point in the Europa League, and languishing in mid-table, it was Le Gym who were perhaps in more urgent need of a win.

“We’ll take it, under the circumstances,” said Nice manager Franck Haise post-match. Monaco are grateful for the circumstances, which allowed them to come back and salvage a point. It was a slow, lethargic start in what was an underwhelming derby-day atmosphere due to the Nice ultras’ strike, which meant the away end was uncharacteristically sparse for such an encounter between two such close neighbours.

It was Nice who started the game the better of the two sides. Antoine Mendy had the ball in the net in the 16th minute, only to see it ruled out for offside, but a former Monégasque, Sofiane Diop, did get the away side ahead on the half-hour mark. It was a vague, floating effort towards the back-post that beat everyone, including Mohammed Salisu, who misread the trajectory of the strike, and Philipp Kohn, seemingly unaware that it was heading into his far corner.

Monaco receive contentious penalty decision

However, just minutes later came the lifeline. Ali Abdi, already on a yellow card, put his studs down Mika Biereth’s thigh and was given his marching orders. But just as they did against AJ Auxerre earlier this season, Monaco conceded in spite of their numerical advantage, and it was Diop again, striking from the spot after Krépin Diatta was adjudged to have handled the ball.

And it was another handball, this time from Nice’s Mendy, that brought the game back to line in first-half injury-time. The Nice defender’s stray arm was punished, and Ansu Fati stepped up to net his first of the day and continue his excellent start to life in Red and White. Then came the second moment of contention – Monaco’s second penalty and the third of the encounter.

Put in behind, Folarin Balogun got in front of Moise Bombito, felt a nudge in the back and fell. “Balogun was in front of him…” said Hutter, evoking the incident, highlighting that he felt hard done by for the penalty awarded against his side earlier in the encounter. Bombito looked to be seriously injured in the incident, but despite the lengthy delay, Fati kept his calm to double his account on the day.

But it was a Monaco side struggling for inspiration, for ideas, for incision, who then played in front of Nice for much of the rest of the half. There were few chances for Les Monégasques, but one did come the way of George Ilenikhena, so often the danger-man off the bench, but he directed his free header wide of Yehvann Diouf’s goal.

Hutter expects returning players against Angers

A late push on the Nice goal could not unblock the encounter, as both sides were forced to settle for a draw. “I am not 100% satisfied,” said Hutter post-match. When have we heard that before?

“From the two draws this week, I have different feelings. The 2-2 versus Manchester City, with the final goal at the end, felt like a win. This 2-2, from 2-0 down, I am not satisfied […]  At the moment, we are not 100% happy, but when all of the players are back on board, we will be more competitive,” added the Monaco manager. 

Hutter believes that Aleksandr Golovin, Aladji Bamba, and Paul Pogba could all be back on for the next match, against SCO Angers, upon the return from the international break. Whilst it still leaves a lengthy injury list, improvements will now be expected from a diminished Monaco side yet to hit their stride.

Stay updated with Monaco Life: sign up for our free newsletter, catch our podcast on Spotify, and follow us across Facebook,  Instagram, LinkedIn, and Tik Tok.

Photo source: AS Monaco