Top of the table! Filipe Luís’s Monaco beat Lens, lead Ligue 1 | OneFootball

Team managed by Flamengo’s former coach beat Lens (FRA) 2-1 this Friday (18) at the Stade Louis II

Monaco (FRA), managed by Filipe Luís, beat Lens (FRA) 2-1 this Friday (18) at the Stade Louis II in the fifth round of the French Championship. With the result, the team led by Flamengo’s former coach temporarily moved to the top of Ligue 1, the French league.

Brunner opened the scoring for Monaco in the first half. After the break, Udol leveled things for Lens. However, Filipe Luís’s team scored again late on thanks to an own goal by Gradit and secured another three points in the competition.

Monaco will now have a break before the next round of Ligue 1. The team returns to the pitch on October , at 3:45 p.m. (Brasília time), once again at the Stade Louis II, to face Toulouse (FRA). The break comes because of the FIFA international window.

HOW DID THE MATCH GO?

Monaco started the match on the front foot and put Lens under pressure from the opening minutes. As early as the sixth minute, Abline got on the end of a corner and hit it first time, but sent the ball wide. Shortly after, the forward even found the net. However, the officials called offside and ruled it out. Monaco kept creating chances and pinned the visitors back.

In the 18th minute, VAR reviewed a possible handball by Sané inside the box. After the review, however, the officials decided not to award a penalty. Soon after, Monaco scored again. Diop pounced on a rebound from Risser and put the ball in the back of the net. Once again, though, the goal was ruled out for offside.

MONACO TAKES THE LEAD

The home side’s pressure finally paid off in the 31st minute. Abline surged down the right and cut the ball back. Brunner then appeared unmarked to hit it first time and put Monaco in front. Before halftime, Filipe Luís’s team still had chances to extend the lead.

In the 41st minute, Risser saved Brunner’s shot, while Abline wasted the rebound with the goal wide open. Finally, Golovin picked out Abline in the 47th minute, but the forward hit a weak effort. As a result, Monaco went into the break leading 1-0.

LENS EQUALIZES, BUT MONACO RESPONDS LATE

Monaco came out for the second half looking to increase its advantage. Just three minutes in, Abline was played through and lifted the ball past Risser. However, the referee flagged offside for the third time and disallowed the goal.

Lens took advantage of the moment and equalized in the 12th minute. Thauvin delivered an inswinging corner, and Udol got there to glance a header home for 1-1. After the equalizer, Lens grew into the match. Hazard threatened with a header in the 15th minute. Shortly after, Thauvin received the ball on the right, cut inside, and hit a low shot just wide of the post.

The away side kept pressing and nearly turned the game around in the 28th minute. Hazard made a good individual move and unleashed a powerful shot. However, Hradecky came up with a great save.

OWN GOAL DECIDES THE MATCH

Just when Lens looked closer to completing the comeback, Monaco went back in front. In the 38th minute, Vanderson drove down the right and sent a cross into the box. Trying to clear the danger, Gradit deflected the ball with his back and ended up scoring an own goal. That made it 2-1 to Monaco, restoring the home side’s lead at the Stade Louis II.

STANDINGS

As a result, Monaco leads the league with 13 points. However, Filipe Luís’s team could still be overtaken on goal difference by two teams later in the round. With ten points, Lille (FRA) and Rennes (FRA) face Nice (FRA) and Lyon (FRA), respectively, and are aiming for first place.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.