Ligue 1 Review | A reality check for AS Monaco but signs of potential title challenge eminent | OneFootball

There is never a good time for an unbeaten run to come to an end. AS Monaco’s stretched back six months and until Sunday, they and Manchester City were the only unbeaten sides in Europe’s top five leagues in all competitions this season. For that to come to an end against a local rival is wounding, but that is what happened as the Principality club succumbed in the Côte d’Azur derby, against OGC Nice.

“When you lose a derby, everyone is feeling disappointed. We are guilty for this defeat. We clearly had the game in our hands and then we did two stupid things,” reacted an understandably dejected Adi Hütter post-match. But within that statement is a recognition of Monaco’s privileged position, in a roundabout way – it is Les Monégasques who are their own worst enemies. Self-implosion, rather than being out-run, out-classed is the biggest worry for this Monaco side, who still remain just three points off Paris Saint-Germain, even despite the defeat.

Côte d’Azur derby turns on Monaco errors

Both Hütter and Nice manager Franck Haise identified the same turning points in Sunday’s fierce derby at the Allianz Riviera. “Their goal, our equaliser and the brawl (which led to Vanderson’s red card), it boosted us,” said Haise.

Monaco had led thanks to Breel Embolo’s opener before Evann Guessand equalised against the run of play just before the break. “It was a stupid foul, then we lost the aerial duel, then there was the red card,” said the Monaco manager. The Vanderson red, which came after a mass brawl, was a point of contention, with Les Monégasques’ CEO Thiago Scuro noting that Jérémie Pignard “likes to give red cards to Monaco”.

But beyond the contention, there is an acknowledgement that the harm was self-inflicted for Monaco. “11 versus 11, Monaco were clearly the best team on the pitch,” said Hütter. If it had remained 11 versus 11 into the second half, ASM would have fancied their chances of extending their unbeaten run; that, however, became hypothetical, as Gaëtan Laborde’s strike midway through the second half sunk Les Monégasques.

Monaco hold Ligue 1 goal-scoring record

That three-minute spell, which came at the end of the first half, is a warning for Monaco, not to let their guard down, and do the “stupid things” that cost points. Because this Monaco side have so far shown themselves capable of competing with Paris Saint-Germain.

There is strength and depth throughout the pitch and their unbeaten run attested to that. Individuals are shining: Denis Zakaria, absent on Sunday, Maghnes Akliouche, and Eliesse Ben Seghir all immediately spring to mind, but Breel Embolo has also re-discovered his goal-scoring touch. But the danger comes from everywhere; 13 different players have scored for Monaco in all competitions this season, more than any other side in Ligue 1.

So despite what will be a painful derby-day defeat, there is no need for gloom at Monaco and within the phrase – “their own worst enemy” there can be a recognition of their own strength but a wariness of their capacity for self-destruction. The latter needs to be avoided if they are to mount a sustainable challenge to PSG’s dominance.

This week’s Ligue 1 subplots

GFFN | Luke Entwistle