OM opened the match look quite dangerous against AS Monaco, but the Rouge et Blancs thought they had done the hardest part when they lead by two goals at the half-hour mark. Unfortunately, their defensive structure could not stand up to the onslaught from Dario Benedetto (author of a brace) and his teammates. Result: a spectacular, cruel defeat (3-4) that does not change anything for Monaco’s position in overall standings (19th). For Leonardo Jardim, still looking for a first win, the pressure is rising.
A cruel defeat is when you have the feeling that everything was going your way to spend a brilliant evening that would finish smiles and congratulations at the final whistle. This is the case of the match last night at the Stade Louis II, filled to capacity for the 5th day of Ligue 1 football. Leonardo Jardim had chosen a 4-4-2 with offensive talent and panache. And he made the right choice. Carried by an energetic Aleksandr Golovin, ASM’s defense resisted OM’s early offensive waves before registering two goals via Wissam Ben Yedder, who is showing no signs of a slow transition to his new club. Around him, Islam Slimani, hyperactive, and Gelson Martins, solid technically, ensured the show.
Defense… where?
2-0 at 30 minutes… Then a storm began to gather. Benedetto and Germain equalized before half-time. Then Payet and Benedetto, again, pushed the Red and White to the precipice. What lead to such turn of events? Too many mistakes, a defense that lacks complementarity and an underwhelming Cesc Fabregas. The end of the match would be full of regrets with the thunderous entry of Keita Baldé, scorer of a goal (3-4, 75th minute). The Monegasque attack deserved better, no doubt… but the same cannot be said of their defensive third. With 14 goals conceded in five games in Ligue 1, this is the worst total in the history of the club after so few matches.
Next Saturday, the ASM will travel to Reims before playing the derby against Nice. ASM is 19th in the standings: the red alert has been sounded.
*Article originally published in the French edition of the Monaco Tribune.