Engaged in a European marathon to secure a place in the group stage of the Champions League, Monaco experienced another setback in the league by losing 1-0 in Lorient on Friday August 13 during the second day of Ligue 1.
Faced with a solid Lorient team in defense and engaged in pressing, they largely dominated (73% possession) but were surprised on a penalty obtained and transformed by Terem Moffi, who had already scored three of his 14 goals. last season against Monaco.
A few days after their success against Prague in the preliminary round and before challenging Shakhtar Donetsk, from Tuesday evening, in the first leg of the Champions League play-offs, the Monegasques had the mission to catch up in Ligue 1 after the 1-1 draw conceded at home against Nantes at the opening of the championship.
Even with several executives left on the bench for the European meeting, Monaco animated the debates, thanks in particular to a very active Sofiane Diop. But the rare Monegasque opportunities passed by or clashed with goalkeeper Paul Nardi, in great shape.
The Merlus find their spectators
Opposite, if the Lorient circles have managed to scratch a lot of balloons, like Laurent Abergel, they struggled to serve Moffi and Armand Laurienté, lonely at the front. Until the penalty snatched by Moffi for a foul by rookie Ismail Jakobs and transformed into force (1-0, 31e).
But in front of more than 12,000 spectators delighted to return to the Moustoir stadium after almost a season behind closed doors and more and more enthusiastic, the Hakes kept this small lead to the end.
And the entries of Monegasque executives on the hour mark did nothing, except for a big thrill when a free kick from Aleksandr Golovin found Strahinja Pavlovic alone in the box. But the head of the young Serbian defender collided with Nardi again. And Kevin Volland’s shot in stride was missed.
During the Monegasques’ last stint at the Moustoir in January, Golovin, who was coming back from a four-month absence, scored with a masterful strike on his first ball, a handful of seconds after coming into play. Monaco then won. 5-2, but Lorient, author of a fiery comeback phase last season and an encouraging 1-1 draw last week in Saint-Etienne, is definitely no longer the same team.
