Monaco continued its momentum from the start of the season, Saturday evening, at the Louis-II stadium, during the 4th day of the championship, easily beating Lens (3-0). The club thus confirms its position as leader of Ligue 1, while its opponent is sinking. Ten points collected and thirteen goals scored in four games: Adi Hütter’s Monaco are strong. Especially since, beyond the figures, the very attractive game of his team already seduces the supporters of the club of the principality. Starting with the first of them, Prince Albert, again present in his dressing room, with, at his side, Ekaterina Rybolovleva, vice-president of the club and daughter of the billionaire owner.
Led by a still decisive Takumi Minamino on the second goal, Monaco, ultra-efficient on set pieces and author of two goals from a corner, had no trouble getting rid of Lens, unrecognizable at the start of the season.
If the Monegasque future looks bright, with the gradual integration of the American Folarin Balogun into a princely workforce, the future Lensois will necessarily be delicate. On the return from the international break, the Sang et Or, currently relegated with only one point, will have to beat Metz on Saturday September 16 at home. Under penalty of experiencing a period of turbulence, four days before the opening of their journey in the Champions League, in Seville (Spain). And for that, Franck Haise’s players will have to be the best in all areas.
Because, from the start of the meeting, Monaco took the game on its own. Dominating and incisive defensively, the Côte d’Azur pushed their opponents to defend in their camp, without stopping, during the first half hour.
The Lensois, lacking serenity, cracked. In very good shape, Minamino took advantage of a good pass from Wissam Ben Yedder to force Brice Samba to slam his powerful shot for a corner (24th). Inefficient in this exercise since the start of the season, the Monegasques will nevertheless find the answer. On the outgoing strike from Caio Henrique, Wilfied Singo, defender recruited from Torino during the transfer window, played Massadio Haidara to score with a header (1-0, 24th).
Without collapsing and in front of their raucous 1,200 visiting yard supporters, Haise’s men responded quickly. Perfectly launched at the limit of offside at the entrance to the surface by Angelo Fulgini, Elye Wahi could have afforded a first achievement for the Sang et Or. But he crossed his shot too much (29th). After a free kick from Fulgini that Philipp Köhn deflected the opposite hand (34′), Monaco doubled the bet on a perfectly executed counter.
Vanderson took over that same Fulgini on the run, recovered the ball and passed quickly to Mohamed Camara. This denier shifted Minamino, who offered a third assist this season. This time, he opened on Aleksandr Golovin who, without control, scored from the right at the near post (2-0, 36th).
At the break, Haise decided to react: Haidara gave way to Deiver Machado (46th). However, the start of the second half was identical. Monaco even sealed the game. On a new corner from Henrique, Guillermo Maripan beat Kevin Danso to perfectly cross his recovery from the head (3-0, 59th). As against Strasbourg (3-0), Monaco wandered. And it is as the undisputed leader that Hütter and his family will travel to Lorient on the next day.
