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Football: Refereeing controversy as history repeats itself in Monaco defeat to Benfica

by: Luke Entwistle
13/02/2025
Zakaria on the pitch at the Stade Louis II as Monaco take on Benfica in the Champions League

Moatasem Al-Musrati was controversially sent off as AS Monaco once again slumped to defeat at home to Benfica (0-1), just as they did back in November, at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday night.

There was a sense of déjà-vu at the Stade Louis II as, less than three months after their last visit, Benfica returned to the Principality and, once again, the encounter was dominated by a controversial refereeing call.

A cautious encounter bursts into life

The game had started in a relatively tepid manner with both sides (overly) cautious not to concede the first goal in this two-legged Champions League play-off. That caution meant that chances were at a premium throughout, especially in the first half.

Maghnes Akliouche went close for Les Monégasques in the ninth minute and we had to wait until the 43rd minute until the next clear-cut opportunity. This one fell to Benfica with Alvaro Carreras forcing Radoslaw Majecki into a save low to his right.

But the game quickly sparked into life early in the second half. Vangelis Pavlidis beat the offside trap and got goal side of his marker Mohammed Salisu before chipping Radoslaw Majecki from a tight angle.

Just four minutes later and Monaco found themselves a goal down and a man down. It was the contentious moment of the match as Al-Musrati, in his first start for the Principality club since joining from Besiktas, was shown a yellow for imitating the awarding of a yellow card.

“The sending-off decided the result” – Hütter

In the rules of the game, it is a sanctionable offence and so Al-Musrati was sanctioned, receiving a second yellow and a red card. “Yes, this is the rule, but he was not aggressive,”  argued Adi Hütter post-match. Monaco will also point to the irregularity or infrequency of the application of this rule. “The sending-off decided the result,” bemoaned the Monaco manager, with CEO Thiago Scuro also passing through the mixed zone post-match to bemoan another controversial refereeing performance.

With a return leg in Lisbon next week, attention turned to damage limitation Pavlidis almost doubled his account on the night but Majecki was equal to his close-range effort.

And whilst Benfica huffed, they struggled to work clear goal-scoring opportunities. Not only did they fail to add to their advantage, but they also lost key player Ángel Di María to injury late on; he is unlikely to play any part in the return leg.

But Monaco weren’t unscathed late on either. Both Denis Zakaria and Vanderson got late yellows and will play no part in Lisbon next Tuesday due to suspension. The worst was avoided as the game finished 1-0 to Benfica and (some) hope remains.

Monaco head to Portugal as underdogs

“We are disappointed but we will see what we can do in the return leg […] the challenge is more difficult but you have to trust and believe that anything can happen,” reacted Hütter.

The Monaco manager approached this two-legged tie against Benfica insisting that, by virtue of having already lost to the Portuguese side in the Champions League this season, his side were the “underdogs”. If that title didn’t suit Monaco before Wednesday evening, then it certainly does now as Hütter’s side look to keep their European adventure alive in Portugal next week.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.  

Photo source: AS Monaco

Football: Mika Biereth quick-fire hat-trick sees Monaco sink Auxerre

by: Luke Entwistle
01/02/2025
Biereth celebrates with his teammates as Monaco take the lead against Auxerre at the Stade Louis II

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.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: AS Monaco 

Football: Monaco’s Ligue 1 title hopes dealt big blow by PSG

by: Luke Entwistle
19/12/2024
Dembélé swinging a ball into the box at the Stade Louis II during PSG's 4-2 win against Monaco

AS Monaco were dealt a potentially decisive blow in the race for the Ligue 1 title as PSG came to the Stade Louis II and took away all three points (2-4) for the first time in almost five years.

It was an eerie atmosphere at the start of Wednesday’s encounter, the final Ligue 1 game of 2024. Unlike the other 16 clubs in the French top flight, who have all completed their league campaigns in this calendar year, Monaco and PSG were playing on – not that Les Monégasques’ fans were happy about it.

Monaco’s Ultras stage protest

This game was moved due to the scheduling of the Trophée des Champions, which will be contested between these two clubs in Doha, Qatar on 5th January 2025. The game had initially been scheduled to take place in China in the summer before those plans were ultimately foiled. Given PSG’s QSI (Qatari Sports Group) ownership, the decision to host the match in Doha has been met with hostility from Monaco’s fan base and the club’s ultras boycotted the start of this match,

They missed a dominant start from the visitors, who struck the post early on through Achraf Hakimi, whilst Bradley Barcola also forced Philipp Köhn, in for the injured Radoslaw Majecki, into a good save at his near post.

Then came the moment of controversy as Wilfried Singo, already on a yellow card, collided with Gianluigi Donnarumma after being put through on goal. The Monaco defender’s touch was heavy, allowing the PSG goalkeeper to close the angle. Singo got his shot away but the follow-through caught Donnarumma flush in the face. The goalkeeper, bloodied and bruised and requiring staples in his face, came off, Singo, however, stayed on.

Just moments later, Monaco were behind. Hakimi was once again given too much freedom as he drove into the box, cut back and found Désiré Doué, who netted his first Ligue 1 goal for his new club.

Monaco crumble after battling back

Köhn made three more big saves before the break, keeping his side in the game. Those efforts were rewarded early in the second half. Eliesse Ben Seghir tucked home a penalty after Marquinhos was adjudged to have handled inside the box and then just six minutes later, they turned the game on its head.

Maghnes Akliouche, a live-wire throughout the second half, latched onto Aleksandr Golovin’s ball over the top and put a cross to the front post that was flicked in by Breel Embolo. But the lead did not last long – just four minutes in fact.

It was a case of ball-watching as Köhn’s parried save was pounced on by Ousmane Dembélé with the Monaco defenders un-reactive to the situation. Then came the sucker punch as two substitutes, Gonçalo Ramos and Lee Kang-in, combined, the former tucking home the latter’s corner kick with an emphatic header.

Monaco threw attackers on in a desperate attempt to salvage a point. Takumi Minamino almost did so but he struggled to divert Akliouche’s ball past substitute goalkeeper Matvei Safonov.

Dwindling prospect of title challenge

There would be another goal but it would come for PSG as Dembélé beat the offside trap, held off Singo and then chipped Köhn – a moment of quality to wrap up an enthralling game.

Even before the halfway point of the season, it was a game that had the air of a finale, and in the fight for the title, it may be just that. “The question of the title would be difficult [if we lost],” said Akliouche pre-match. With Monaco now 10 points adrift, there is a mountain to climb.

“The Ligue 1 [title race] is still very open,” insists PSG manager Luis Enrique. However, with Les Monégasques having won just two of their last seven in all competitions, they will need an uptick in form in 2025 if they are to challenge PSG’s surpremacy – of the chasing pack, they still look the most likely to do so.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok.

Photo source: AS Monaco

Football: Arsenal squander Monaco’s hopes of wrapping-up Champions League progression

by: Luke Entwistle
12/12/2024
Monaco's Kehrer is grappled by an Arsenal player during the defeat to the Gunners at the Emirates

A dominant Arsenal side condemned AS Monaco to back-to-back defeats in the Champions League (3-0) as Adi Hütter’s side missed te chance to secure their qualification in London on Wednesday.

Hütter assured that his youthful side “wouldn’t hide” against Arsenal, favourites on paper, stating a determination to impose their style of football. Les Monégasques failed to do that in the first 45 minutes. Monaco were left chasing shadows as the Gunners dominated, creating a string of high-quality chances. 

Arsenal lay seige on Majecki’s goal

“We were lucky in the first half that Arsenal didn’t score more,” reflected the Monaco manager post-match. In the end, the visitors headed into the break just one goal down, quite miraculously. Gabriel Jesus had three great chances, two of which were one-on-ones, expertly foiled by Radoslaw Majecki, who did his best to keep Monaco in this tie. 

Martin Odegaard also slid the ball wide when one-on-one whilst Gabriel Martinelli also should have done better with just Majecki to beat. However, Arsenal did head in with an advantage thanks to Bukayo Saka, who latched onto Jesus’ ball to the back post. 

Majecki had a busy first half, unlike David Raya, who remained untested at the other end. A goal down, Hütter changed tack at half-time. Off came Soungoutou Magassa, on came Takumi Minamino as Monaco reverted to their more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation. 

It had an effect as Monaco grew into the game. Thilo Kehrer went close with a header, Breel Embolo fired just wide on the swivel and Minamino also had an effort on goal.

Monaco pay for ‘impossible’ mistakes

But the pressure, against such high-level opposition, could not be sustained. Arsenal, once again in a title battle in the Premier League, managed the game excellently and when the chance to kill the game came their way late on, they took it.

It was an individual error, a misunderstanding between Majecki and Mohammed Salisu that allowed Arsenal to pounce inside the Monégasque penalty box and Saka applied the finishing touch, registering his second on the night.

It was his shot, which took a guided flick of Kai Havertz that completed the scoring and provided perhaps a fairer reflection of Arsenal’s domination on the night.

Monaco have lost this season but all four of their previous defeats came by just one goal. The defeat at the Emirates was the first time that the Principality club were truly outplayed this season and that, coupled with the individual mistakes, made it a night to forget for Monaco.

“We gave them lots of gifts. At this level, it is impossible and not acceptable to make the mistkaes that we made,” lamented the Monaco manager post-match.

Monaco’s top 8 hopes dimmen

However, it wasn’t all negative. “I also saw positive things against a fantastic team with a maginificent style of play,” said Hütter. Arsenal showed Monaco the level that they are looking to attain, especially if they want to go deep in the Champions League.

Despite defeat, their second on the bounce, Les Monégasques are still almost certain to qualify for the play-off phase, although hopes of a top eight finish have now significantly dimmed.

Attention will now return to Ligue 1 with a match against Reims coming up on Saturday. For that game, Monaco will still be without Denis Zakaria and Folarin Balogun, the latter has been forced to undergo surgery on his shoulder issue. However, Wilfried Singo and Christian Mawissa will both return. All four were certainly missed by Monaco against Arsenal.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo source: AS Monaco

Football: “Unlucky” Monaco leapfrogged by Marseille after late defeat at the Vélodrome

by: Luke Entwistle
02/12/2024
Majecki rising highest in a crowded box to claim the ball in Monaco's defeat to Marseille at the Vélodrome

AS Monaco relinquished their second place standing in Ligue 1 to Sunday’s opponent, Marseille, after a late defeat at the Vélodrome (2-1).

“We deserved at least a draw,” said Adi Hütter after Monaco’s Champions League defeat to Benfica on Wednesday (2-3). His analysis for the defeat to OM was a copy-paste job. 

“We didn’t deserve this defeat. When I see the entire game, we deserved a point minimum. I didn’t see OM as the better team. If we are lucky, we could have won this match […] it is hard to accept this defeat,” said Hütter as Mason Greenwood’s late winner inflicted Monaco’s defeat in the space of just five days. 

It had started well for Monaco. Dismissing any notion that his side would follow the blueprint for success at the Vélodrome, set by Angers and more recently Auxerre, which consists of sitting deep and hitting in transition, Monaco pushed high and were proactive in trying to influence proceedings.

“The Volcano” erupts as OM react

In a game of few chances, the Principality club had two big ones before half-time, one of which was taken with aplomb by Aleksandr Golovin at the back post, That came from Monaco leaping on a Valentin Rongier error before moving the ball swiftly and vertically to find Golovin unmarked at the back post.

But those moments were too few and far between, even if Marseille struggled to create problems of their own. Having only won once at the Vélodrome all season, the fans were on the backs of the OM players at half-time, letting them know what they thought of a timid first-half display.

But the Vélodrome, colloquially known as “The Volcano” did erupt just after the break as a re-enthused Marseille took control of the game. Once again, it was an error that created the goal with Mohammed Salisu misreading the trajectory of the ball. He headed it straight to Neal Maupay, who in turn found Luis Henrique just yards out and with an open goal. It was an unmissable chance and miss it he did not.

Buoyed by their revival, Monaco had to weather a storm that did not yield any high-quality chances, despite the intense pressure and the intensity of Marseille press.

Monaco were attentive to opportunities to punish OM without ever forcing the issue, with Takumi Minamino notably finding the side-netting, but the game looked to be heading towards a draw – a result that, within the context of the match, would have suited both parties.

Marseille end dour home run with late goal

But there would be a late twist in the tale. Christian Mawissa was punished for a hand-ball inside his box with Mason Greenwood stepping up to dispatch past Radoslaw Majecki.

The late winner inflicts a cruel second defeat of the week for Monaco, which also sees Marseille leapfrog them into second place in Ligue 1, albeit only on goal difference.

“We cannot be happy with the result but we can be satisfied with the performance,” said Hütter. Bar the match against Angers, that applies to all of Monaco’s matches this season, even if the rewards for those performances have not been forthcoming.

Monaco part of a break-away group?

Hütter says that Monaco have to focus on “chasing [their] goals” and whilst he insists that, after just 13 matchdays, he is not looking at the table, it is clear that a top three is emerging; Lille, inconsistent and struggling to juggle European and domestic football, are now in fourth and three points adrift of the podium.

Monaco may find themselves at the back of that break-away pack, but their performance at the Vélodrome, described as the toughest away atmosphere in Ligue 1, suggests that they may not still be there come the end of the season, and given PSG’s dropped points this week, there is perhaps a fallibility that can yet be exploited. It is a cruel defeat for Monaco but certainly not one that will see the club’s ambitious objectives re-evaluated.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo source: AS Monaco

Football: Monaco slump to first Champions League defeat in controversial circumstances

by: Luke Entwistle
28/11/2024
AS Monaco players walking around the track around the Stade Louis II during the defeat to Benfica.

AS Monaco suffered their first Champions League defeat of the campaign at the hands of Benfica (2-3), who dramatically reversed the score-line in the dying stages.

The Principality club could have gone second in the standings in the event of a victory at the Stade Louis II and for long periods of the match, they looked on course to do exactly that. After Monaco’s academy side beat their Portuguese counterparts in La Turbie earlier in the afternoon, the first-team rushed into an early lead thanks to Eliesse Ben Seghir. He profited from Aleksandr Golovin’s good work – the Russian beginning the move deep inside his own half before providing the assist for Ben Seghir.

In control for large parts of the first half, the match ultimately hinged on a refereeing decision just before the break. Álvara Carreras, already on a yellow, hacked down Wilfried Singo but the referee did not brandish another yellow. Instead, it was Thilo Kehrer, Denis Zakaria, and then Singo himself who all went into the book for their protests. The yellow card for the latter proved costly later on.

Ben Seghir celebrates his goal in front of the Monaco fans. Photo credit: Luke Entwistle

Having lost their last two in the Champions League, Benfica came out with intent at the start of the second half. Whilst Breel Embolo almost doubled Monaco’s advantage, striking the post, seconds later it was the Portuguese side that was level thanks to a Caio Henrique error.

The Brazilian’s headed pass was too weak to make its way as far as Radoslaw Majecki and Vangelis Pavlidis snook in to intercept and walk the ball into the net.

Singo sending off the turning point

It was a roller-coaster of emotions for Monaco, who thought they had retaken the lead just seconds later, only for Maghnes Akliouche’s effort to be ruled out for offside before Benfica too saw one of their efforts ruled out by VAR for a marginal offside.

Then came the game-changing moment. Singo, already on a yellow, was shown a second for his involvement in an aerial duel and was sent off. Monaco, however, weren’t just willing to sit back and settle for a draw, and sensing an opportunity, they continued to impose themselves.

They got their reward late on with substitute Soungoutou Magassa latching onto Christian Mawissa’s ball into the box and thumping home his first-ever goal in European competition. But having re-taken the lead, despite their numerical disadvantage, they couldn’t hold on – their heroic efforts ultimately in vain.

Di María continues his fine record against Monaco

Former PSG forward Ángel Di María likes playing against Monaco, and whilst he was restrained for large periods of the encounter, he came to the fore late on, assisting Alexander Bah and then Arthur Cabral as Benfica turned the game on its head in the space of just four minutes. “He was the decisive player in this moment,” reacted Adi Hütter, referencing the influential Di María, who across the course of his career, has registered 11 assists against Monaco, significantly more than against any other club.

“We should have defended our box better and we were punished with two goals at the end of the match when we didn’t defend well as a team. It makes the result even more frustrating because we were leading 2-1. We deserved at least a draw,” added Hütter post-match.

A blow for Monaco’s top 8 chances

It is a result that brings an end to Monaco’s unbeaten run in the Champions League. It – almost certainly – won’t be consequential in their objective to secure a top 24 spot, but it does hamper their chances of finishing in the top eight, which would see them bypass the play-off round of the tournament.

It certainly doesn’t get any easier for Les Monégasques, who still have Arsenal, Aston Villa and Inter Milan to face in this revamped ‘League Phase’ of the competition. “Disappointed” with the result, Monaco can, however, take plenty of heart from another strong display.

 

Monaco Life is produced by real multi-media journalists writing original content. See more in our free newsletter, follow our Podcasts on Spotify, and check us out on Threads,  Facebook,  Instagram,  LinkedIn and Tik Tok. 

Photo source: AS Monaco