PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 1-0 Galatasaray: Folarin Balogun nets winner to boost Champions League progression chances | OneFootball

UEFA Champions League, Round 6, 09/12/25

AS Monaco were dealt a boost in their quest to progress to the play-offs of this season’s UEFA Champions League thanks to a 1-0 win over Galatasaray, secured thanks to a second-half strike from Folarin Balogun.

The Match

It was a game of two halves from Monaco’s players. There was a lack of energy and organisation in the first half. Ilkay Gundogan missed a glorious early chance, blasting over when unmarked and six yards out. Les Monégasques were given another let-off when Baris Yilmaz struck the outside of the post, benefiting from some passive defending from Thilo Kehrer and Vanderson to get in behind. 

Monaco were restricted to long-range attempts from Maghnes Akliouche, both of which Ugurcan Cakir was equal to. The Turk then made an excellent save from Takumi Minamino early in the second-half, but the Japan international latched onto the rebound and then earned a penalty.

Denis Zakaria, however, couldn’t finish from the spot. It looked set to be a frustrating night for Les Monégasques, and that feeling was only amplified when Folarin Balogun missed two glorious chances. However, the former Arsenal forward’s perseverance was rewarded in the 68th minute, when he prodded home from a scrappy corner melee. 

Despite chasing the game, Galatasaray would find chances to equalise very limited as they couldn’t repeat their first-half dominance. Lamine Camara should have put the game to bed with another glorious chance, but he blasted over unpressured. It set up a nervy finish, but Monaco held on for a crucial three points. 

“Nine points won’t be enough,” said Minamino post-match. “We will need 10 or 11.” With tough matches against Juventus and Real Madrid coming up in the Champions League, the job is not done yet, but this was an important step towards qualification.

Monaco player ratings

Lukas Hradecky – 6

Caio Henrique – 5

Mohammed Salisu – 6

Thilo Kehrer – 6

Vanderson – 4

The Brazilian was at the scene of the crime quite often in the first half. You could identify his presence in all of Galatasaray’s major chances, but he undoubtedly improved upon his first-half showing in the second, but he still lacked attacking threat, failing to find the right pass or make the right choice in dangerous situations.

Lamine Camara – 6

Denis Zakaria – 6

Aleksandr Golovin – 4

Takumi Minamino – 7

Another battling performance from the Japan international, who is one of the most consistent elements in this Monaco side. He earned the penalty and was very dangerous playing on the shoulder of the last man. His choices in the final third were excellent, and on another night, he would have had a couple of assists to his name.

Maghnes Akliouche – 6

Folarin Balogun – 7

The USMNT forward showed his strength of character to come back from missing his first two chances. The one that he did take was scrappy, but beyond his box presence, he also brought hard work off the ball, both in and out of possession. Balogun has certainly established himself as the first-choice forward. 

GFFN | L. Entwistle – reporting from Monaco