PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 5-2 Metz: Ansu Fati nets brace on Ligue 1 debut in Monégasque win | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 5, 21/09/25

AS Monaco relied on an excellent substitute appearance from Ansu Fati as they came from behind to beat a resilient FC Metz (5-2) at the Stade Louis II on Sunday.

The Match

Monaco came into this one looking to get out of what, at this point, can be described as a slump. Beyond the defeat to Club Brugge in midweek, it has been a set of sub-standard performances from the Principality club. That did not change against Metz.

Metz gobbled up their first chance to take the lead. Cheikh Sabaly was never really brought under control by Monaco, and it was his pass between Eric Dier and Thilo Kehrer that sent Habib Diallo through to net the opener. Les Grenats’ lead was almost doubled in the 20th minute as Koffi-Franck Kouao saw his shot excellently tipped around the post by Philipp Köhn.

Monaco struggled to procure any clear-cut chances but took their first. It was a simple move: Kehrer with the ball over the top, Takumi Minamino with the run in-behind and the ball across for Mika Biereth to tap in. Simplicity rewarded but not to be repeated before half-time, with Monaco struggling to open up a stubborn Metz defence.

But Metz’s resistance was quickly broken in the second half. Fati, off the bench, scored after just 37 seconds, sliding home Lamine Camara’s ball across the box. But once in the lead, they did what they have often done this season and took their foot off the gas. It allowed Metz to build in confidence and ultimately find a way back into the game.

It was a needless goal to concede from a Monaco perspective. Off the ball, Minamino had his arms all over Kouao, and Stéphanie Frappart pointed to the spot. Gauthier Hein sent Köhn the wrong way from the resulting penalty.

Monaco would find their way out of the predicament. It was Fati again who was the saviour for Les Monégasques, meeting Krépin Diatta’s pin-point cross with a bullet header. Resistance broken, Monaco began to enjoy themselves. They got a fortuitous fourth as Kouao turned home Camara’s corner towards the front post, and the super-sub himself, George Ilenikhena, rounded off the scoring in injury time, slotting home from a Stanis Idumbo ball through. An emphatic win but still not the performance to assert that they have turned the corner.

Monaco player ratings

Philipp Köhn – 6

Kassoum Ouattara – 3

Thilo Kehrer – 5

Eric Dier – 4

Jordan Teze – 5

Takumi Minamino – 4

Dangerous with his runs in behind and the assister for Monaco’s opener, it was his moment of madness that handed Metz their second-half equaliser. It was a mistake that justified the mixed reaction when he was subbed off later in the half.

Lamine Camara – 5

Aladji Bamba – N/A

The Monaco academy product was replaced on the 33-minute mark with what looked like a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Krépin Diatta (6).

Maghnes Akliouche – 4

Since making his France debut, we have not seen the same Akliouche. Imprecise, unimposing, ineffective, he struggled to have a positive impact and looks a completely different to the player who ran the show for Monaco before the international break and for much of last season.

Paris Brunner – 4

Replaced by Ansu Fati (8) at half-time. The Barcelona loanee made an immediate impact, netting within seconds of his entry. He dropped deep and was the main source of Monaco’s creativity in the second half, but he also found himself in the box when it mattered, and he had the finishing touch to boot.

Mika Biereth – 5

Metz selected player ratings

Cheikh Sabaly – 7

The winger, starting for the first time since being reintegrated at Metz, ran the Monaco defence ragged. He got the assist for the opener and constantly had Les Monégasques’ defenders, particularly Dier, running back towards their own goal.

Gauthier Hein – 6

Habib Diallo – 7

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco