This is probably not why AS Monaco made the trip to Cyprus. Three weeks after its victory in Norway, against Bodo-Glimt, the Principality club failed to come back with three points from its trip to Pafos (2-2).
After two slaps in Ligue 1, against Lens (1-4) and Rennes (4-1), Sébastien Pocognoli opted for a change of system by abandoning his 3-4-2-1 for a 4-2-3-1. A choice which seemed to pay off from the first minutes, with the three attacking midfielders involved in the opening score: Golovin shifts Akliouche, who serves Minamino (0-1, 5th).
Unfortunately, the ASM has not really managed to maintain this pace. First there was the equalizer for Pafos, on a furious header from the eternal David Luiz (1-1, 18th). And Monaco only regained the advantage following a failed recovery from the Cypriot goalkeeper, which benefited Folarin Bolagun (1-2, 26th).
Monaco pretty poorly off to a good start
What’s next? Insufficient mention for the Rouge et Blanc, who lacked sharpness in the offensive phase, and who ended up being caught, by dint of suffering. All on a CSC from Salisu, after a header from Sunjic (2-2, 88th).
This is clearly not doing Monaco’s business, in a fairly average situation in the race for the play-offs with six points taken in five games. We will have to do better in the final days, against Galatasaray, Real Madrid and Juventus. Not easy…
