PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 1-0 Rennes: Stade Louis II curse broken as Les Monégasques retake podium position
Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 28, 07/04/24
AS Monaco secured a crucial victory at home against Stade Rennais (1-0), their first at the Stade Louis II in 2024, thanks to Maghnes Akliouche’s first-half goal. Monaco leap-frog Lille OSC and back into third, whilst Rennes’ chances of securing UEFA Champions League football next season are becoming increasingly remote.
Pre-match, Monaco manager Adi Hütter said that he preferred an exciting 5-2 to a boring 1-0. His play style is a testament to that as Les Monégasques launched an early bombardment of the Rennes goal. The Principality club really ought to have led after just four minutes, but unpressured at the penalty spot, Youssouf Fofana blazed his glorious effort over the bar.
Wissam Ben Yedder should also have done better with his effort just moments later, but after a brilliant Steve Mandanda save from Thilo Kehrer, he could only head over with the goal gaping. Monaco create plenty of chances, but they concede plenty too, especially in transition, and they were thankful to Radoslaw Majecki on multiple occasions as he denied Amine Gouiri and then Martin Terrier in the first half. The latter’s effort forced a Hollywood save from the Polish goalkeeper, who tipped the effort onto the bar.
Monaco did take the lead midway through the first half and it came courtesy of Maghnes Akliouche, who met Ismail Jakobs’ pull back into the box to tuck past Mandanda. Both sides had chances to add to the scoreboard before the half, but a mixture of wastefulness and good goalkeeping kept the score to just 1-0.
Just seconds into the second half, Martin Terrier was then sent off for a clumsy studs-up challenge on Akliouche. However, with the numerical advantage, Les Monégasques failed to create
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