AS Monaco and RC Lens continued with their start to the season. And it’s bad news for the Sang et Or, beaten this Friday evening at Louis-II, for the first time on the bench of Yannick Cahuzac.
Appointed in place of Dino Toppmöller, the former midfielder remained in continuity with his predecessors by maintaining this 3-4-2-1 for which the squad was built. His choices (notably the start of the young Mezian Soares) did not really pay off in the first period where Monaco, after two goals logically refused for offside, ended up opening the scoring through the inevitable Paris Brunner (1-0, 32nd).
Lens had not shown much, and the visitors could have returned to the locker room at 2-0 against them after this double opportunity from Brunner and Matthis Abline (42nd), even if it should be noted that M.Turpin had shown clemency towards defender Sadibou Sané for his hand in the area, on a strike from Michaël Cuisance (21st). The international referee took into account the fact that the ball had been deflected by Eric Dier, causing Sané to involuntarily handball.
Lens in the tough, Monaco euphoric
In the second half, Lens showed its best, despite a new alert with a third goal refused for offside, at Abline (49th). Supported by its executives, Racing managed to equalize, with an angry header from Matthieu Udol from a corner from Florian Thauvin (1-1, 57th). The Artésiens clearly had their highlight, with a 2-1 ball for Thorgan Hazard (75th).
In this kind of period, unfortunately, we are often more exposed to twists of fate like this own goal from Jonathan Gradit, awkwardly intervened on a cross from Vanderson (2-1, 84th). The contrast is striking with the sparkling form of Paris Brunner, involved in the action, and who does not even need to touch the ball to be decisive.
This is a third defeat in four league matches for Lens, who seems very ill. Conversely, Monaco continues its exciting start to the season, with 13 points out of 15 possible. By adding the progressive returns of several elements (Balogun, Minamino, Salisu), which will give new options to Filipe Luis, everything is going well for ASM.
