AS Monaco won 7:1 at home against Nantes on Saturday evening. The guest professionals had to go to the report with their own fans after the final whistle.
FC Nantes are facing relegation from Ligue 1. They currently have only a three-point lead over the relegation place, which is occupied by promoted team St. Etienne (1:5 in Marseille on Saturday). The scenes after the final whistle on Saturday evening showed that nerves were on edge. Captain Pallois and his colleagues crept to the away section, which was verbally attacking the team.
But what had happened? Nantes had started their away game really well, with Abline putting the visitors 1-0 up in the 4th minute after a high ball win by Cozza, who was on loan from Wolfsburg. However, Cozza was shown the red card shortly afterwards (8th minute) after a nasty kick to Vanderson’s ankle, thus initiating the decline.
After Nantes’ defense initially held out strongly against it, Monaco turned the game around within 60 seconds before the break with goals from Biereth and Minamino (44’/45′). After the restart, it took just four minutes before Ben Seghir made it 3-1 (49′), putting the game out of reach. In minute 54, Biereth scored his second, and in minute 64, he completed his hat-trick.
Joker Ilenikhena shows no mercy
The game was decided long ago, but Monaco was still hungry for more. Ilenikhena, who came on for Minamino, scored twice in the final stages (81′ and 90’+5) to make the home win even more comfortable. It was the perfect response to the 1-0 defeat at home to Benfica in the Champions League – and a boost for the second leg in Portugal next Tuesday.
Then the team of coach Adi Hütter, in which Zakaria and Kehrer had played the full 90 minutes, will aim to turn the tables and fulfill their dream of reaching the last 16.
Monaco’s 12th win in 22 league games sees them jump to third in the Champions League standings for now, a position Nice will be aiming to reclaim on Sunday.
