Maghnes Akliouche drives Monaco comeback at Lyon with goal and penalty earned | OneFootball

Maghnes Akliouche drove Monaco’s comeback at Lyon on Sunday, scoring and then winning the penalty in a stirring second half. L'Équipe notes he delivered a high-level display.

After a first half in which Dominik Greif denied him in the 16th minute, the 24-year-old struck in the 63rd minute, meeting Jordan Teze’s 60-metre pass with a right-foot finish under the bar. Six minutes later he drew a foul from Corentin Tolisso for a penalty, converted by Folarin Balogun in the 72nd minute.

His work without the ball matched it. In the 83rd minute he chased back as the last man to block Afonso Moreira, and Sébastien Pocognoli praised his defensive graft and pressing, noting he ranks among Ligue 1’s leaders for high recoveries in the final third, behind Yann Gboho and Mamadou Sangaré.

That defensive edge is not new, but his attacking efficiency has sharpened. Balancing both has been a test in a season where he is Monaco’s most used player, clocking 2,908 minutes in all competitions.

There has been a before and after Paris, with two goals at the Parc des Princes in the past month. Now capped five times, he made the Groupama Stadium another stage.

He has often surged just before France call-ups. On 31 August, on the eve of his first camp, he scored and set up Takumi Minamino in a 3-2 win over Strasbourg. Before November’s list, he starred against Nantes on 29 October, scoring and assisting for Mamadou Coulibaly in a 5-3 victory.

Akliouche said he tries to help in both directions, by making decisive contributions with the ball or by defending, and simply to give his best.

Source: L'Équipe