Reims pulled off a perfect shot and won 1-3 in Monaco!
Despite absences due to the African Cup and Asian Cup, Reims implemented its vertical plan to the letter. Magnificent goals from Teuma, Khadra and Matusiva allowed the Champenois to temporarily climb to 5th place, almost unflinching despite Ben Yedder’s score drop.
Matusiva liberates Reims Stadium!
This time, it’s really over after the break goal: Matusiva tries and finds an angle to strike at the entrance to the area. Their funny point ends under the bar, 1-3!
Balogun manages to create a chance!
Pivot control and a chained left strike, which hits the ground and reaches DEOF. This was probably the last chance for Monaco…
Monaco can’t create chances
The Monegasques still seem to be under threat on the counter-attack, and Ben Yedder is cautioned after breaking up a counter-attack 6 minutes into stoppage time.
Bojang is very close to breaking even
The Gambian is launched deep twice in a row. The second is correct, as it comes in front of Kohn, outside his area, but who manages to deflect the ball.
Darami is replaced by Bojang
Second appearance in Ligue 1 for the Gambian.
Cartillier makes his pro debut
He replaces Ouattara, very active but a bit disorganized.
Vanderson has also been warned
A bit late on the catch from Salama.
Golovin attempts a direct free kick
However, it was at a tight angle and it ended up, no doubt touched by the tips of Diouf’s gloves but not seen by the referee.
Okumu is cautioned for a very manly tackle
It was just on the edge of the area, but right for Ramois.
Khadra is applauded by the yard as he exits
We will remember his first goal in Ligue 1. He has been replaced by Englishman Wilson-Esbrand, who is on loan from Manchester City.
Bodu replaces Fofana
An attacking shift for Monaco, the lone Zakaria in the middle is recovering and has offensive talent in front of him.
Diouf slams the ball over his bar
Balogun got his head on Wenderson’s cross. It was very central and the Reims goalkeeper took no chances before winning from the ensuing corner.
Salama misses his check
And luckily for Monaco, still very close to being caught in the deep.
KÖHN saves the match ball!
Khadra had a chance to break after going behind the defense on a mistake by Magasa. But Maripan blocked it this time and the Monaco goalkeeper won his duel.
Reims must cope with the absence of international competitions
Reims players selected for the African Cup and Asian Nations Cup have the most playing time (5,126 minutes) for a Ligue 1 side this season. And they have also scored 55% of Reims’ goals in the Elite in 2023/24 (12/22).
Yellow card for de Smet
A Belgian defender deliberately grabs an opponent.
Salama enters
After receiving instructions from Still, he replaces Diakhon.
Khadr’s masterpiece!
Le Rémois starts on the right wing and takes the ball with a dove to finish off Maripan. He then manages his speed against Magasa and Chile’s return, gets the ball back with some luck and deceives Kohn! 1-2!
Reams on the bad far range
Stade de Reims have lost their last 3 away games in Ligue 1, the 2nd longest current streak behind Nantes (4). Champanoise scored a total of 7 goals in these 3 matches, conceding only 2 goals.
Monaco quickly get back on the scoreboard!
On the corner of the area, Golovin gets on his right foot and curls his shot. Ben Yedder, who is hanging around, has the reflex to deflect the ball with his head and catches Deof on the wrong foot!
Here we go again with a change on each side!
Balogun made his debut in the Monaco side. He will replace Aklioche and try to score against his former club.
On the Reims side, Atangana is replaced by Amado Kone.
It’s a break with the score 0-1!
Monaco had the biggest chances (0.78 xG to 0.08), but failed to convert, notably falling to the leaping Diouf. And Reims punished ASM with a superb strike from Teyuma after the transition.
Teuma is Reims’ top scorer in Ligue 1
The Maltese international, who arrived for €4 million this summer, has scored 5 goals this season.
>> Delivery driver, minimum wage earner and star of Malta: Teddy Teuma’s surprising journey
Teuma continues his efforts
Supporting the attackers on paper, he smothered Maripan on the fall of a long ball and forced the Chilean defender into a poor back header that led to a corner.
TEUMA’s Cannonball!
Reims opens the scoring thanks to Teuma’s gem at the end of transition: the Maltese international finds Darami behind and sends a rolled potato under Kohn’s bar! 0-1!
Magasa has been warned
The Monaco defender comes out strongly in midfield anticipating the transition, but is too late and only tackles Darami.
Akliouche procrastinates a little more in the area!
The Monegasque looks in front of Agbadou to steal a misdirected ball, but it takes a little too long to follow through. Agbadou can tackle and hold.
Diakhon is confused with Ouattara
The Reims striker continued his technical gestures at the stoppage, before losing control of the ball and slipping through his legs to foul the Monegasque full-back.
This led to a yellow card for Will Still, who complained to the fourth official.
Reims, Louis II’s pet peeve?
Monaco have not won any of their last 7 home games against Reims in Ligue 1 (5 draws, 2 losses), the last Monegasque success in Louis-2 against Champenois on February 21, 2014 (3-2).
Monaco are also on a home defeat in Ligue 1 (0-1 against Lyon on 15 December), but have not lost twice in a row at home in the elite since February-March 2023 (2 defeats, the 2nd was against Reims).
What a stop by Diouf!
And what action from Monaco before that! Ouattara sends a perfect cross to Ben Yedder, who takes it from point blank range but the Reims goalkeeper is in front, who once again takes up too much space!
It’s getting closer to Monaco!
Nice movement started with Ben Yedder serving behind Golovin at the entrance to the area. The ball goes hard, but over the crossbar, while the Russian demands a corner. It’s hard to tell at the slow pace if his effort is a bit distracting.
Deof comes out to meet Ouattara!
Reims got out of the goalkeeper very actively, when the ball landed at the entrance of the area on the left piston of ASM very alone. Diouf comes out quickly and takes up a lot of space, allowing him to counter strikes.
This is Thilo Kehrer’s first with ASM
The former PSG defender arrived on loan (paid) from Aston Villa.
>> Thielo Kehrer at AS Monaco: a win-win loan?
This time, it’s Monaco who try to counter
Golovin launched Ben Yedder, who left his camp. The Monegasque striker no longer has the legs to go it alone and serves Ouattara captured by Okumu.
Darami placed a small bridge, but not two!
Nice technical gesture from the Dane, who tries to do the same to Wanderson in stride and in the area. The Monegasque number 2 does not take the bait and closes his legs.
Reams emerges from two recovery errors
The Monegasques were unable to move quickly and were only awarded a corner, which was won by Diouf.
Atangana’s distant strike soars in the Monegasque sky
Reims will play in a 4-2-2-2, with Matusiva and Atanga in a double pivot, Teuma and Khadra a step up, and Darami and Diakhon up front to try and tackle Monaco quickly.
Thus Champenois takes the first shot of the match, on a quickly executed transition.
Let’s go!
Kick-off awarded by Monaco.
Both teams enter the field
We will not be spared the rumors about Louis-II this evening: the stadium seems very empty.
Atang holder with rims
This is a minor change compared to the likely pre-match composition. To see if this means a mid 4, or Khadra playing a high level role in a false 9 or as a winger with Darami in the axis.
Reims: Deof – Phoket, Okumu, Agbadou, Atangana – Matusiwa, Teuma – Daikhon, Darami, Khadara.
substitute: Oliero, Wilson-Esbrand, Chapchet, Sangui, Prochet, Fofana, Kone, Salama, Bojang.
Balogun starts on the Monaco bench
Hutter often changes his attacking formula depending on the match. This time, Akliouche and Golovin start in support of Ben Yedder.
Monaco: Kohn – Magasa, Maripan, Kehrer – Wenderson, Zakaria, Fofana, Ouattara – Aklioche, Golovin – Ben Yedder.
substitute: Majeki, Cartillier, Matsima, Platret, Coulibaly, Diop, Balogun, Bodu, Ifekele.
Day 18 of Ligue 1 is underway!
After OM’s draw against Strasbourg (1-1) on Friday evening, we continue with Monaco-Reims at 5pm.
ASM, third, are just 2 points behind Nice, PSG. So Monegasque can put pressure on their neighbors, who will play Rennes at 9 pm.
For its part, Reims is 2 points adrift of Europe at mid-season and can therefore dream big.
