Maghnes Akliouche shines despite Monaco’s exit, his unfinished symphony against PSG | OneFootball

Maghnes Akliouche lit up Monaco’s Champions League play-off second leg in a 2-2 draw with PSG, yet the Principality side exited after a 2-3 first leg. His first half matched the occasion.

Deployed as a second striker in a 5-3-2, he first glided left on nine minutes to outpace Achraf Hakimi and lay on a chance that Mamadou Coulibaly blazed over. On 23 minutes he carried Monaco forward on the right, an attack that ended with a Vanderson shot. He then struck on 45 minutes, finishing after Coulibaly’s deft lay-off. Sébastien Pocognoli said he was ready to help, wanted to be decisive, and had been impressive with and without the ball.

At 1-0 on 53 minutes, with Monaco still with 11 on the pitch, Folarin Balogun’s run opened space to the right, but instead of driving at Marquinhos, Akliouche fed the American and the shot was blocked by Pacho. He later slalomed past four players on 70 minutes.

That felt like a final flourish, as he was withdrawn on 74 minutes with Angers on Saturday in mind. A hip problem from the Nantes match on 13 February had limited him to 57 minutes in the first leg and kept him out at Lens last weekend. He remains Monaco’s most used player this season with 2,672 minutes in all competitions.

PSG had considered signing him last summer, and this display will have prompted calls to see him with France next month before the World Cup in the United States. Akliouche has four goal involvements in 10 Champions League matches this season, one goal and three assists, matching his 10-game return last term of two goals and two assists.

Source: L'Équipe