5 years ago, AS Monaco started their epic run against Tottenham | OneFootball

It’s a moment that even those under 20 can remember, whether  if they in front of their TV or, even better, at the stadium that day they will remember it like it was yesterday. On September 14, 2016 — five years ago to the day, AS Monaco started their what was an incredible Champions League run with a 2-1 victory at Tottenham. It was a result which would be ideal to kick-start things for the men of Leonardo Jardim in this European campaign.

A Wembley trip for the Rouge et Blanc

After successively eliminating Fenerbahçe (1-2, 3-1) then Villarreal  (2-1, 1-0), the Rouge et Blanc found themselves drawn in a tough Group E with Bayer Leverkusen CSKA Moscow and Tottenham. The first game would offer a trip to a new but still legendary Wembley Stadium, where Spurs were playing their European matches while their new stadium was being built. It would, however, be an understatement to say that the Monegasques were not impressed.

The magic of Bernardo Silva, the “blast” of Thomas Lemar

Lineud up in a 4-2-3-1, they played a perfect first half hour. In the 15th minute, Bernardo Silva spun the London defense, beating Jan Vertonghen before firing home a sublime strike from the left into Hugo Lloris’ net.

Sixteen minutes later, it was Thomas Lemar, who came on following an early injury to Nabil Dirar, who blasted the bar under the bar.  Toby Alderweireld would pull a goal back just before the break to add some suspense, but Monaco would hold on until the end to record a prestigious victory.

This inaugural success had the Monegasques up and running in this group stage, which they will finish in first place, thanks to another win against Tottenham (2-1), this time at the Stade Louis-II, a victory and a draw against CSKA Moscow led by Aleksandr Golovin (3-0, 1-1), and a draw and loss against Bayer Leverkusen (1-1, 0-3).

An unforgettable season, ending with a title

The rest, you probably know by heart: an incredible tie in the round of 16 against Manchester City (3-5, 3-1), another of the same ilk in the quarters against Borussia Dortmund (3-2 , 3-1), and then a cruel elimination in the semifinals against Juventus (0-2, 1-2).

But above all, the memories of this European run will be engraved forever in the hearts of the Monegasque supporters, with the icing on the cake being an eighth French title being sealed on May 17, 2017. Unforgettable.

Match details:

Tottenham – AS Monaco : 1-2

Halftime: 1-2

Goals: Alderweireld (45′) ; Bernardo Silva (15′), Lemar (31′)

Tottenham: Lloris © – Walker, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, B. Davies – Dier, Alli – Son, Eriksen, Lamela – Kane

Substitutes: Vorm, Trippier, Carter-Vickers, Dembélé, Sissoko, Wanyama, Janssen

Manager: Mauricio Pochettino

AS Monaco : Subasic – Raggi, Glik, Jemerson, Sidibé – Bakayoko, Fabinho – Bernardo Silva, Moutinho, Dirar – Falcao ©

Substitutes : De Sanctis, Touré, Diallo, Traoré, Lemar, Jean, Germain

Manager: Leonardo Jardim