Ligue 1, Gameweek 13, 30/10/22
AS Monaco ended their four game winless streak with a 2-0 victory against bottom side Angers. Philippe Clement’s side didn’t have things all their own way, however. Angers had their chances on the break in the first-half, and even had the ball in the net in the first-half, only for it to be ruled out for offside.
The sides went into half-time level, although they shouldn’t have. After being brought down in the box, Wissam Ben Yedder stepped up to take the penalty himself, but his tame effort was palmed away by Yahia Fofana in the Angers goal.
In search of attacking thrust, Vanderson came on for Malang Sarr at the break, and the substitution reaped immediate dividends. The Brazilian’s effort was turned in at close range by Breel Embolo. It was another substitute who got the second. Aleksandr Golovin, who could do with adding a few goals to his game, curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner to put Monaco 2-0 up. From there, Les Monégasques went into cruise mode and comfortably saw out the victory.
The victory allows Clement’s men to leapfrog Lille into sixth, although Les Dogues can re-take their position if they beat Lyon on Sunday evening. Angers remain bottom and have lost their last five Ligue 1 fixtures.
AS Monaco – 2
Alexander Nübel – 5
Ismail Jakobs – 5
Malang Sarr – 5
Guillermo Maripán – 5
Axel Disasi – 6
Takumi Minamino – 4 – Things are still yet to click for the former Liverpool man. He was involved in the play more, but wasn’t particularly effective in his output. With Golovin and Henrique on the bench, he was put on set-piece duties, but was wasteful. Unable to have a telling influence on the game, he was withdrawn before the hour mark.
Youssouf Fofana – 6
Eliot Matazo – 5
Wissam Ben Yedder – 4 – Not a day to remember for Ben Yedder, who is running out of time to impress Didier Deschamps ahead of the announcement of Didider Deschamps’ World Cup squad. He did well to earn the foul, but his effort from the spot was tame.
Breel Embolo – 7 – The Swiss striker’s impressive start to life in Monaco continues. He brings something different and extra to Monaco’s attack. Once again displaying his physical prowess, Embolo brought others into play and worked well in tandem with Ben Yedder, despite the latter having a relative off-day. He was perfectly placed to tap-in at close range for the opener. He now has six goals in 13 Ligue 1 matches.
Others:Vanderson (7) – he came on, quickly got an assist with a perfectly placed cross and made a couple of key defensive interventions. A great substitute appearance from the Brazilian, whose form had come into question in recent weeks.
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Golovin (7) – another successful substitution from Clement. The Russian playmaker has been in great form at the start of the season, but he has often lacked end-product. Not today. His sumptuous curling effort from outside the box nestled perfectly in the top corner.
Henrique (6), Volland (6), Diatta (N/A)
Angers – 0
Yahia Fofana – 7 – A great performance from the young Frenchman. Ben Yedder’s penalty was poorly placed and at a good height, but it still needed to be saved. He then made a strong stop from Minamino and was an imposing figure at set pieces.
Pierrick Capelle – 5
Batista Mendy – 4
Ibrahim Amadou – 3
Cédric Hountondji – 4
Yan Valery – 5
Azz-Eddine Ounahi – 5
Nabil Bentaleb – 6 – Angers didn’t see a lot of the ball, but the former Tottenham man used it effectively. He was efficient in transitional phases of play and found his teammates with a good range of passing. He felt the rhythm of the game when on the ball, slowing down and accelerating the game as he saw fit.
Adrien Hunou – 5 – Showed some nice touches and was dangerous down the left in the opening stages. He would have had a great chance of getting on the scoresheet had he not opted to try to win a penalty with a blatant dive.
Himad Abdelli – 4
Amine Salama – 4
Others: Bamba (4), Sima (4), Taïbi (5), El Melali (5)