AS Monaco stood firm and won over Montpellier Hérault 2-1

AS Monaco avoided a banana skin tonight as they claimed a 1-2 win at Montpellier to maintain their lead at the top of the table. With the packed schedule forcing the team to play every three days, the coach opted to include both Joao Moutinho and Kylian Mbappé in his starting eleven.

After a quiet opening quarter-hour, Kamil Glik set the visitors on their way from the first clear-cut chance of the game, rising majestically to head in Lemar’s free-kick (0-1, 16 mins). After demonstrating their effectiveness from the set piece, the Monegasques then out together a textbook move on the break. Lemar sent Kylian Mbappé thorough with an inch-perfect pass, and the number 29 showed the defence a clean set of heels before curling home a great finish (0-2, 20 mins).

The evening might have gone more smoothly had Vitorino Hilton not pulled one back from a corner just after half time (47 mins), while injuries to Germain and Sidibé also complicated matters. Danijel Subasic had to show his authority in the air to avert the danger (74 mins), before Mukiélé sent a header just wide. Despite a red card for Jemerson (88 mins), Leonardo Jardim’s men held firm until the end, Suba’ in particular doing superbly to claim aerial balls (92 and 94 mins). The team will now focus on recovering in preparation for their next game, at Metz on Saturday.

Source: www.asmonaco.com