AS Monaco shows character to snatch victory against Strasbourg | OneFootball

At the end of a match full of twists and turns, and after being pegged back in the last quarter of an hour, the Rouge et Blanc showed courage to secure a victory against Racing (3-2).

They held their own. Eager to bounce back after last weekend’s defeat, the AS Monaco players showed character to secure an important victory against Strasbourg (3-2). It was their second victory in Ligue 1 McDonald’s on Matchday 3, and one won in the presence of President Dmitry Rybolovlev. ✍️

The context 📅

Driven by the desire to eraser their late defeat against LOSC (1-0), our Rouge et Blanc approached this match against Strasbourg with the ambition of winning. It would be a difficult mission against last season’s surprise team, who snatched a point in the Principality in April.

They're a very strong team, who have already won three times this season, two in the league and a very important one away to Copenhagen, where it's never easy to win. So they'll be coming with a good level of confidence, and even though they're coming back from a long trip, football is also a mental game, and winning is good for the mind.

The XI  👥

To do this, Adi Hütter decided to return to his preferred 4-4-2 formation, with a completely changed defense and a first start in the top flight for the duo of Biereth and Balogun up front. On the left flank, it was Aleksandr Golovin who came in, while Maghnes Akliouche, called up for France for the first time, was also included.

The scenario 🎞

The match started strongly in a packed Stade Louis-II, despite the start of work on the stadium. Indeed, we only had to wait 6 short minutes to see Maghnes Akliouche open the scoring thanks to Folarin Balogun’s superb pressing on the Alsatian goalkeeper (1-0, 6′)! It was the second goal in Ligue 1 this season for the newly minted international, having already scored against Le Havre having found the net five times in preseason.

Hradecký saves, and RCSA are close to an equalizer

It was thus an ideal start to the match for the Rouge et Blanc, who then ceded the ball to Strasbourg, who had a good attempt from a corner kick by Moreira, but  Lukáš Hradecký made a diving save (23′).

The latter nevertheless had to only watch Panichelli’s header find the net, but this goal was disallowed for offside (33′). Balo’ responded immediately, having been very lively all afternoon, as he ran on to a long ball but was denied by Penders on his shot across goal (39′).

Balo’s chip doubles the lead

The  22 players returned to the locker room with a one-goal advantage. This advantage was jeopardized at the restart by substitute Kendry Paez, but Hradecký won his one-on-one (47′). It proved an important save, as Lamine Camara played Folarin Balogun through on goal, and the American fired a perfect shot over Penders (2-0, 48′)!

Opportunities for the KO

This goal came at the perfect time for the Monegasques, as it was the American’s first goal of the season, thanks to the Senegalese midfielder’s second assist. Adi Hütter’s men even thought they had added to their lead, but Mika Biereth scored from an offside position (53′). It was a shame, as Strasbourg rallied and almost reduced the deficit through Moreira (57′), before Balogun (57′) and then Akliouche (59′) tried their luck, but without success.

2 minutes to change the mood

It was a shame, because the Alsatians made a flurry of substitutions and therefore used this new blood to reduce the deficit with a beautiful volley from Bakwa (2-1, 73′). He then earned a penalty after a quick move in the box, which Panichelli converted (2-2, 76′). The Rouge et Blanc then went back in search of a third goal, but a header from Eric Dier from a corner was cleared off the line (80′).

Taki’ heads us to a win!

Racing tried their hand without success (86′, 91′), but remained dangerous in transition and on set pieces. This was without counting on the self-sacrifice of our players, who snatched victory at the end of added time with a fierce header from Takumi Minamino thanks to a fine assist by “Magic” Maghnes (3-2, 96′)!

It was a stunning conclusion that allowed AS Monaco to win and return to just off the podium before the break. DAGHE MUNEGU!!! 🇲🇨

Key moments 🎥

4′: Zakaria’s cross is deflected by Balogun, and the ball grazes the post 6′: Balogun presses high on Penders, allowing Akliouche to score (1-0) 12′: Balogun breaks through, but his pass doesn’t find a teammate 23′: Barco’s corner is controlled by Moreira, and Hradecký makes a diving save 24′: Golovin’s shot is off target from a corner 33′: Panichelli’s header is disallowed for offside 39;: Teze sends Balogun forward with a long ball, but he is denied by Penders 47′: Paez misses his one-on-one with Hradecký 48′: Balogun breaks and chips the ball past Penders (2-0) 53′: Biereth’s goal is disallowed for offside after a great team move 57′: Moreira’s shot is off-target 59′ : Balogun’s attempt is stopped by Penders 61′: Akliouche’s half-volley is deflected for a corner 73′: Amo-Ameyaw crosses for Bakwa, who volleys home (2-1) 76′: Bakwa wins a penalty and Panichelli converts (2-2) 80′: Dier’s header is blocked from a C. Henrique corner 86′: Barco crosses for El-Mourabet, who misses the target 91′: Lemarechal’s free kick misses the target 95′: Amo-Ameyaw’s shot misses the target 96′: Minamino’s header from Akliouche’s cross is the winner (3-2)

The stat 📊

AS Monaco has won 90% of its home Ligue 1 matches in 2025 (9 wins, 1 draw), the joint-highest ratio among teams from the five major European leagues already present in the top flight last season (Juventus are also at 90%).

🗓️ Match details:

Sunday, August 31 2025 (17:15) – Stade Louis-II

Ligue 1 McDonald’s – Matchday 3: AS Monaco 3-2 RC Strasbourg

Halftime: 1-0

Goals: Akliouche (6′), Balogun (48′) and Minamino (96′) for AS Monaco; Bakwa (73′), Panichelli (76′) for Strasbourg

Bookings: Bamba and Akliouche (101′) for AS Monaco; Doukouré (8′) for Strasbourg

Dismissals: Nzingoula (99′)

AS Monaco: Hradecký (Köhn, 79′) – Teze, Dier, Mawissa, C.Henrique – Akliouche, Camara (Bamba, 78′), Zakaria ©, Golovin (Minamino, 85′) – Biereth (Ilenikhena, 79′), Balogun (Coulibaly, 100′)