AS Monaco Basketball experienced a torrid night at the Astroballe on Friday, as they were played off the court by a completely rejuvenated Lyon-Villeurbanne (91-54), who levelled the Betclic Elite final series.
Monaco found themselves in difficulty from the offset as they struggled for scoring opportunities. A reaction from the home side was entirely foreseeable, but the intensity of their defensive game and their efficiency in attack seemingly caught the Roca Team off guard and by the end of the first quarter, the game looked beyond them.
On their route to the final, Monaco have been the masters of the comeback, most notably against Strasbourg in the deciding game of their quarter-final tie, but one never looked on the cards here.
Monaco were confined to a mere 54 points, equalling their seasons-worst tally, as only Ibrahima Fall Faye (10) reached double figures.
The scales were already evenly balanced going into the series, and in victory on Wednesday, they were tipped in Monaco’s favour.
Although, overall, Monaco will likely have a positive assessment of their result in Lyon (one victory, one defeat), the manner of the defeat will give Lyon the belief that the scales have tipped back in their favour, and that they can get a win at the Salle Gaston Médecin.
Lyon, however, will need to solidify their ascendancy in Monaco. “We had a reaction, which is good. Despite everything, it’s only one match, and we have to go to Monaco with the same intent, because we are facing champions, against whom all of our matches have been tightly-contested,” said Lyon manager Paul Lacombe. “We know that there will be a reaction from them. Nothing is won yet, and we have to be ready.”
The third match of the series takes place at the Salle Gaston Médecin on Monday as Monaco look to avenge their 2019 final defeat.
Yoshi fans can now enjoy their favourite Michelin-star cuisine poolside as the Metropole Hotel takes its renowned Japanese restaurant to the Karl Lagerfeld-designed Odyssey rooftop terrace for the summer months.
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene have taken their children, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, to Norway for a commemorative tour dedicated to his ancestor, ocean explorer Albert I.
With people from over 20 countries making up 35 teams competing in three different classes, the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge is taking the ideas of today to create a sustainable boating culture for tomorrow.
The Monte-Carlo Opera and the Prince’s Musicians are heading to Vienna after being invited for the first time to be part of the Rossini Mania Festival at the Vienna State Opera House.
The Ligue 1 calendar for the 2022/23 season has been and Monaco Life takes a look at the stand-out fixtures, including a congested August schedule, which will include Champions League play-off matches.
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A collection of custom-made racing helmets painted by renowned artists are going on the block at the Prince’s Car Collection to raise money for the children’s cancer hospital in Nice.
Monaco’s premium meat distributor, Giraudi, has launched a new product, Kobe Kreations, consisting of a range of Kobe beef products aimed at restaurants worldwide. The range also caused a stir with the retail trade at Sial Paris, the international food expo that ran last week.
One of the recipes making up the range is Barbagiuan du Munegu Artigianali, with its obvious Monaco connections and consisting of fried dough, Japanese Kobe beef, spinach, ricotta, parmesan and chard.
Other recipes include Kobe beef cooked in beer gravy and chestnuts wrapped in mini raviolis. Giraudi, which also runs several restaurants in the Principality, including Beef Bar, became the first authorised importer of certified Kobe beef to Europe in 2014.
That appointment, and Giraudi’s track record as an importer of premium beef, has made the Monegasque company one of the leaders in the European top-end meat market. The company now sells in excess of 90,000 tonnes of premium meat products every year.