AS Monaco Concludes Ligue 1 Season with Defeat Against RC Lens
Despite a 4-0 loss, AS Monaco secures third place and Champions League qualification for the upcoming season.
On Saturday evening, AS Monaco faced a disappointing conclusion to their Ligue 1 campaign, suffering a heavy 4-0 defeat against RC Lens at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Despite the loss, AS Monaco, under head coach Adi Hütter, secured a third-place finish in the league, thus qualifying for the prestigious UEFA Champions League for the next season.
The match, which marked the final round of the Ligue 1 season, saw Monaco employ a significantly rotated lineup, as they were already assured of a podium finish.
Hütter introduced several younger players, including forward George Ilenikhena, supported by Krépin Diatta, Takumi Minamino, who captained the team for this match, and Eliesse Ben Seghir.
In midfield, young talents Lamine Camara and Soungoutou Magassa partnered together, while Jordan Teze made his third consecutive start in defense.
Around a thousand traveling supporters from Monaco hoped for a positive end to the season while keeping an eye on the performance of Olympique de Marseille, in hopes of possibly clinching second place.
The match began at a moderate pace, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances early on.
The first notable effort came from Lens, where a shot from Diouf was deflected by his teammate Koyalipou in the 11th minute.
Monaco responded shortly afterward through Takumi Minamino, whose cross was cleared by Lens’ defense in the 17th minute.
Eliesse Ben Seghir nearly scored in the 19th minute, but his right-footed shot skimmed the crossbar.
Although AS Monaco seemed to be gaining momentum, it was Lens who took the lead in the 21st minute when El Aynaoui scored with an unstoppable header from a well-placed cross.
Lens had a second goal disallowed minutes later after VAR intervention ruled that Koyalipou had committed a foul on Lamine Camara before scoring in the 29th minute.
In the closing stages of the first half, Monaco attempted to equalize, but efforts from Takumi Minamino in the 32nd minute and George Ilenikhena in the 39th minute were thwarted by Lens goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca, leaving the score at 1-0 at halftime.
The turning point of the match occurred shortly after the break.
Already trailing, Monaco was dealt a significant blow when Soungoutou Magassa received a direct red card in the 52nd minute for a dangerous challenge.
Four minutes later, El Aynaoui doubled Lens’ lead, scoring his second goal in the 56th minute.
In an attempt to respond to the setback, Hütter introduced young player Saïmon Bouabré in the 66th minute.
However, with Lens dominating in terms of numbers on the pitch, the home team seized complete control.
A missed opportunity from Medina in the 69th minute was followed by a close-range effort from Monaco's Vanderson in the 71st minute, which failed to find the net.
Lens continued to extend their advantage, with Thomasson scoring the third goal from a well-executed corner in the 71st minute.
Zaroury then sealed the emphatic victory with a fourth goal in the 78th minute.
The score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Despite the disappointing defeat, AS Monaco’s third-place finish marks an important milestone as they will participate in the Champions League group stage for the eighth time in the club’s history.
The season concludes with AS Monaco achieving its primary goal of returning to the highest level of European competition starting in September, while also completing their 31st season on the podium in France’s top division, a record number.
Despite the loss, AS Monaco, under head coach Adi Hütter, secured a third-place finish in the league, thus qualifying for the prestigious UEFA Champions League for the next season.
The match, which marked the final round of the Ligue 1 season, saw Monaco employ a significantly rotated lineup, as they were already assured of a podium finish.
Hütter introduced several younger players, including forward George Ilenikhena, supported by Krépin Diatta, Takumi Minamino, who captained the team for this match, and Eliesse Ben Seghir.
In midfield, young talents Lamine Camara and Soungoutou Magassa partnered together, while Jordan Teze made his third consecutive start in defense.
Around a thousand traveling supporters from Monaco hoped for a positive end to the season while keeping an eye on the performance of Olympique de Marseille, in hopes of possibly clinching second place.
The match began at a moderate pace, with both teams struggling to create clear-cut chances early on.
The first notable effort came from Lens, where a shot from Diouf was deflected by his teammate Koyalipou in the 11th minute.
Monaco responded shortly afterward through Takumi Minamino, whose cross was cleared by Lens’ defense in the 17th minute.
Eliesse Ben Seghir nearly scored in the 19th minute, but his right-footed shot skimmed the crossbar.
Although AS Monaco seemed to be gaining momentum, it was Lens who took the lead in the 21st minute when El Aynaoui scored with an unstoppable header from a well-placed cross.
Lens had a second goal disallowed minutes later after VAR intervention ruled that Koyalipou had committed a foul on Lamine Camara before scoring in the 29th minute.
In the closing stages of the first half, Monaco attempted to equalize, but efforts from Takumi Minamino in the 32nd minute and George Ilenikhena in the 39th minute were thwarted by Lens goalkeeper Jean-Louis Leca, leaving the score at 1-0 at halftime.
The turning point of the match occurred shortly after the break.
Already trailing, Monaco was dealt a significant blow when Soungoutou Magassa received a direct red card in the 52nd minute for a dangerous challenge.
Four minutes later, El Aynaoui doubled Lens’ lead, scoring his second goal in the 56th minute.
In an attempt to respond to the setback, Hütter introduced young player Saïmon Bouabré in the 66th minute.
However, with Lens dominating in terms of numbers on the pitch, the home team seized complete control.
A missed opportunity from Medina in the 69th minute was followed by a close-range effort from Monaco's Vanderson in the 71st minute, which failed to find the net.
Lens continued to extend their advantage, with Thomasson scoring the third goal from a well-executed corner in the 71st minute.
Zaroury then sealed the emphatic victory with a fourth goal in the 78th minute.
The score remained unchanged until the final whistle.
Despite the disappointing defeat, AS Monaco’s third-place finish marks an important milestone as they will participate in the Champions League group stage for the eighth time in the club’s history.
The season concludes with AS Monaco achieving its primary goal of returning to the highest level of European competition starting in September, while also completing their 31st season on the podium in France’s top division, a record number.
