PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 1-2 Toulouse: lethargic Monégasques miss opportunity to go second
Ligue 1 Uber Eats, Round 22, 18/02/24
AS Monaco failed to win at the Stade Louis II for the fourth game in a row, this time succumbing to a 2-1 defeat against Toulouse FC. Les Monégasques missed the chance to go second, whilst Toulouse edge further away from the relegation zone.
Monaco were looking to build on their victory over OGC Nice in last weekend’s Côte d’Azur derby and they were quick out of the blocks, with Folarin Balogun drawing an early save from Guillaume Restes, having been fed through by Takumi Minamino. However, the intensity was sorely lacking from Les Monégasques, and as they let the game drift, Toulouse grew in confidence.
Guillermo Maripán was quickly identified as a weak link in Monaco’s defence, and Toulouse tested his lack of pace. Cristian Casseres was brought down by the Chilean in not too dissimilar circumstances to those that saw Maripán red carded against Olympique de Marseille, however, unlike that evening at the Vélodrome, no foul was given. But it was a warning sign.
Frank Magri went close after being put in behind the Monaco defence, but he couldn’t tip it around Philipp Köhn in the Monaco goal, but Vincent Sierro could just moments later. The Toulouse captain spotted Köhn’s poor positioning from a free-kick and he quickly exploited it, curling an effort into the Swiss goalkeeper’s near post. Köhn, who was scrambling across, couldn’t get a touch to it.
Adi Hütter’s men were booed off at the break, however, they showed an immediate reaction in the second half. Maghnes Akliouche benefitted from a couple of fortunate ricochets inside the TéFéCé box to finish first time past Guillaume Restes. The Principality club continued to push, with Akliouche going close again just seconds later, before
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