Ligue 1 McDonald's, Round 28, 05/04/26
AS Monaco blew the race for the third automatic UEFA Champions League place wide open with a win over European challengers Olympique de Marseille (2-1).
OM's fans remained silent, seemingly in protest, for the first 30 minutes. During that period, it was a game lacking in any rhythm, punctuated by a couple of half-chances, one for Maghnes Akliouche and one from Hamed Traoré. The latter at least elicited a save from Lukas Hradecky . It was when the Marseille fans broke their strike that rhythm and intensity arrived, and it was the visitors who looked the more dangerous. Habib Beye's side opted for directness and it almost paid off when Igor Paixao latched onto a long ball over the top, drawing another good save from Hradecky at his near post.
Neither side made a change at half-time and the result was much of the same. Neither side managed to build a sustained period of pressure, but Monaco didn't need to to open the scoring thanks to an Aleksandr Golovin volley. The Russian steamed into the Marseille box to latch onto Jordan Teze 's inviting cross.
Hradecky continued to be tested, but unlike Geronimo Rulli at the other end, he was equal to the efforts, making a comfortable save from Paixao and significantly better ones from Hojbjerg and Quinten Timber . In his defence, there was little Rulli could have done about Monaco's second, a sumptuous chip from Folarin Balogun . He profited from Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's misplaced pass before stripping CJ Egan-Riley for pace; the England youth international, in his efforts to catch up with Balogun, suffered a muscular injury and was swiftly replaced.
But when Amine Gouiri wiggled through Denis Zakaria and Thilo Kehrer and then poked past Hradecky, it set up a frantic end to the match. Emerson, off the bench, forced Hradecky to tip a header over the bar. As Marseille pushed, they left spaces in behind, and Simon Adingra was allowed to run through on goal and around Rulli . He could only put his effort from a tight angle into the side-netting. Adingra, in another great position, opted for the pass but it was just beyond Mika Biereth , who couldn't reach it on the stretch.
Lukas Hradecky – 8
This win can be owed to the efficiency of Monaco's strikers, but also to Hradecky, who made two big saves from tight angles in the first half and then turned an Emerson header over the bar in the final minutes.
Wout Faes – 6
Denis Zakaria – 5
Thilo Kehrer – 5
Not a wing-back by trade by any means but he was positive. His defensive capabilities are not in question but whether he could fulfil the attacking instructions was another question. We didn't truly get the answer. His explosive pace was certainly an asset and his intentions were good. The execution and decision-making in the final third were mixed, however.
Lamine Camara – 6
Jordan Teze – 6
Aleksandr Golovin – 7
Maghnes Akliouche – 6
Folarin Balogun – 7
The USMNT forward was frustrated for long periods of this game, but he has turned into a player capable of producing moments of brilliance, and his goal was certainly one of them. Brilliant awareness to spot Rulli off his line and brilliant execution to put the chip right in the corner. A goal of the season contender and – more crucially – a goal that knocked OM's confidence in a pivotal moment.
Geronimo Rulli – 4
Made a big save when Akliouche struck from a tight angle from close range but was otherwise not tested in the first period. His role under Beye is developing differently, seeing much less of the ball at his feet, but conceding an average of two goals a game since the turn of the year. If he couldn't do much to stop Golovin from poking home, he was well off his line when Balogun provided a deft chip to hand Monaco a two-goal lead.
Facundo Medina – 3
CJ Egan-Riley – 3
A surprise starter for OM after replacing Leonardo Balerdi , sat as the deepest centre-back with Pavard in a reworked defence. Was beaten by Akliouche for an acrobatic effort in the first period. Careless on the ball, with 3-4 misplaced balls in the first half and was lucky not to have conceded a penalty early in the second half. Was in no man's land when Golovin got on the end of Teze's cross, and was outpaced by Balogun when he chipped magnificently to net against Rulli.
Benjamin Pavard – 5
Igor Paixão – 6
The Brazilian's workrate was once again commendable, stretching the play and threatening down that left side throughout the whole first period. A constant attacking presence, he continued into the second half as one of OM's best outlets without Mason Greenwood .
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 3
Quinten Timber – 6
The Dutchman is clearly the player that has impressed since coming into the side as a January signing. Under Beye, he is continuing to flourish in midfield, driving with the ball and providing an energetic presence off it. His relationship with Højbjerg is developing well, but he is now playing higher up and causing issues for the opposition defence.
Timothy Weah – 4
Hamed Traoré – 4
Amine Gouiri – 5
Started well, collecting the ball deeper and running at the defence instead of acting as an out-and-out number nine. Yet the Algerian didn't seem to execute the gameplan with an out-of-sorts Aubameyang . Managed to find a late goal to keep Marseille in the game with a finish underneath Hradecky.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 3
The Gabon international has completed another sequence of matches, which has seen him struggle to impose himself on the game, even with the extra involvement of Gouiri, which many supporters and journalists had been calling out for weeks.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle & George Boxall – reporting from Monaco
