AS Monaco come back to snatch a point in Nantes | OneFootball

Trailing by two goals at the start of the second half, the Rouge et Blanc showed character to make up the deficit and secure a draw at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes (2-2).

They did everything they could to turn things around. Behind early in the game, then stunned as soon as they returned from the locker room, the AS Monaco players showed a lot of character to draw level with FC Nantes and finally snatch a draw (2-2). The club from the Principality thus ends the first half of the season with 31 points. ✍️

The context 📅

After starting 2025 with a last-second defeat in the Trophée des Champions against Paris Saint-Germain, the Rouge et Blanc wanted to get back to winning ways in Ligue 1. It was a mission easier said than done against a team ranked 16th in the top flight, and who had previously shown their mettle in draws agains the likes of PSG and Lille.

They have shown recently that they can face down the biggest teams. Against Paris Saint-Germain, they managed to draw with only 15% possession. Congratulations to them! They repeated this performance against Lille by also getting a draw after a good performance. They have good stability and welcome us to their ground with a desire to keep up their momentum.

The XI 👥

To start this last match of the first half of the season, coach Adi Hütter had numerous absences and eventually lined up in a 3-4-2-1. The trio of Singo-Kehrer-Salisu played centrally, while Kassoum Ouattara played on the wing and Saïmon Bouabré started for the first time as a professional.

The scenario 🎞

The opposition took a while to get going, even though the scorer Matthis Abline managed to break the Monegasque vigilance on Nantes’s second chance, a cutback from Sorba Thomas (1-0, 12′). Les Canaris were even close to breaking the deadlock on a powerful shot from Johann Lepenant which was deflected (22′). AS Monaco then tried to react and it was Lamine Camara who had the first real chance from range, but Anthony Lopes got down well to save (24′).

Chances but no opening goal

Then the Rouge et Blanc left wingback then crossed hard to the near post for Breel Embolo, who just missed with a headed effort (37′). He then played in Denis Zakaria who could not get an off-balance volley on target (45′). Halftime was then whistled with our side trailing 1-0 which would be increased from the restart, as Thomas offered another pinpoint pass to Kelvin Amian found the top corner (2-0, 47′).

Embolo and Sali’ bring us back into the match!

Fortunately, the Monegasques did not trail for long, because on a pass into space from Wilfried Singo, the Swiss striker cleverly finished past Anthony Lopes (2-1, 52′)!

It was his fourth goal this season in Ligue 1, and one which would give momentum to his teammates since Ben Seghir (55′) and Singo (56′) then had their own efforts. But it was finally on a corner taken by Camara that Mohammed Salisu leveled the match with a header that thrilled the 350 supporters present in the away end (2-2, 59′)!

An amazing save and a crossbar!

It was a near carbon copy of his goal in the Champions League in Zagreb, and a third assist for the player named best young African player of the year for 2024 in the top flight. After the hour mark, the match became less sharp and both sides made changes. But Nicolas Pallois had to clear off his line to prevent Breel Embolo from recording a double (81′). Moses Simon was then no more successful, seeing his curling shot smash off the crossbar (82′)!

Look for a win in the Coupe de France

Despite a final chance at a free kick (91′), AS Monaco unfortunately failed to to take the lead and left with a draw friom the Beaujoire, having come back from 2-0 down. It was a point saved, before they head to Reims to play an important Round of 32 match in the Coupe de France.

Key moments 🎥

11′ Thomas passes to Simon who is denied by Köhn 12′: Thomas passes back to Abline who finishes perfectly across goal (1-0) 22′: A powerful shot from Lepenant is deflected for a corner by Kehrer 24′: Lopes saves a long shot from Camara 37′: Ouattara crosses to the near post for Embolo who heads wide 45′: Ouattara crosses for Zakaria who can’t get his shot on target 45th+2′: Singo shoots just over the crossbar 46′: Simon’s shot is blocked by the Monaco defence 47′: Thomas crosses and his ball is hammered into the top corner by Amian (2-0) 52′: Singo plays in Embolo who holds off Pallois and beats Lopes (2-1) 55′: Ben Seghir’s powerful shot is slammed away by Lopes 56′: Singo has a header from Camara’s corner, but it’s caught by Lopes 59′: Camara corner’s finds Salisu who scores with a header (2-2) 74′: Ben Seghir’s long-range attempt goes over 81′: Singo’s shot is deflected by Embolo and then cleared by Pallois off the line 82′: Simon’s curling shot smashes off Köhn’s crossbar 91′: Camara’s free kick caught by Lopes

The stat 📊

Lamine Camara has delivered 6 of his 7 assists in Ligue 1  from a set piece (including 5 from a corner). Moreover, 6 of these 7 assists have been for defenders (Udol twice and Traoré with Metz, Kehrer, Singo and Salisu with AS Monaco).

🗓️ Match details:

Friday Janaury 10 (19:00) – Stade de la Beaujoire

Ligue 1 – Matchday 17: FC Nantes 2-2 AS Monaco

Halftime: 1-0

Goals: Abline (12′) and Amian (47′) for Nantes; Embolo (52′) and Salisu (59′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Thomas (53′), Lepenant (87′), Pallois (94′) for Nantes

FC Nantes: Lopes – Amian, Pallois ©, Zézé (Gbamin, 70′), Cozza – Lepenant, Castelletto, Douglas Augusto – Thomas (Mohamed, 78′), Abline, Simon

Substitutes: Carlgren, Coco, Duverne, Gbamin, Leroux, Mollet, Tabibou, Guirassy, Mohamed