PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 3-2 Brest: Akliouche-inspired Monégasques win

Ligue 1 McDonald's, Round 12, 22/10/24

AS Monaco defeated fellow UEFA Champions League side Stade Brestois (3-2) thanks to a brace from the impressive Maghnes Akliouche.

Monaco scored with their first attack of the match. It was a slick move in transition, with Breel Embolo releasing Eliesse Ben Seghir, who found Maghnes Akliouche in the box. It was a well-executed first effort from the academy product and he could have doubled his tally just minutes later, but through one-on-one he could only find the inside of the post.

Things went from bad to worse for Brest when they lost Pierre Lees-Melou to injury before the 25th minute and after half an hour they were two goals behind. Lees-Melou's Edimilson Fernandes' stray pass fell at the feet of Aleksandr Golovin, whose shot from outside the penalty area hit the post on its way in.

Les Monégasques were not entirely dominant, however, and returning duo Abdallah Sima and Ludovic Ajorque combined well to feed off the scraps they were given. The former almost halved the deficit at halftime, but his bet on the turn was deflected by Vanderson.

However, it was Monaco who should have increased their lead when Embolo missed a golden opportunity on the stroke of half-time.

Kamory Doumbia replaced the ineffective Romain Del Castillo at half-time and he made the difference by finding spaces and exploiting them deep in the Monaco half. Brest reduced the deficit thanks to Sima's close-range header from a corner.

Mama Baldé had a golden opportunity to level the score, while Marco Bizot saved well from George Ilenikhena before Soungoutou Magassa fired the rebound painfully wide. Monaco decided the match through Akliouche, slipped through by George Ilenkihena, he kept his cool to chip Marco Bizot.

Ludovic Ajorque scored a late consolation, but Monaco took the three points and closed the gap on leaders Paris Saint-Germain to three points ahead of Les Parisiens' match against Toulouse FC. Brest's losing streak in Ligue 1 stretches to three games.

Radoslaw Majecki – 5

Christian Mawissa – 7

Mohammed Salisu – 6

Thilo Kehrer – 5

Vanderson-5

Soungoutou Magassa – 8

After a difficult start to the season, Magassa has responded brilliantly. Building on his performances against Bologna and RC Strasbourg Alsace, it was he, and not Zakaria, who controlled the midfield, showed aggression in the duels, advanced the ball and took control of situations.

Dennis Zakaria – 5

Eliesse Ben Seghir – 7

Aleksandr Golovin – 8

All three of Monaco's playmakers, Golovin, Akliouche and Ben Seghir, were excellent, combining well on several occasions, especially in the transition phases of the game. Golovin took his goal emphatically. That was his first goal contribution of the season and he needed a performance like that

Maghnes Akliouche – 8

He is really knocking on the door of the French national team. Akliouche put in a standout performance, it's not his first, but he adds efficiency and ruthlessness in front of goal. He could have had three, but the two he took, he took brilliantly and with confidence.

Breel Embolo – 4

He did well to tie the game up for Monaco's opener, but he was again wasteful and squandered the chance that could have given the Principality club three goals, effectively killing the match.

Jordan Amavi – 4

Brendan Chardonnet – 5

Julien Le Cardinal – 4

Kenny Lala – 5

Hugo Magnetti – 6

Pierre Lees-Melou – N/A

Replaced by Edimilson Fernandes (3) after 22 minutes. It was his stray pass that gave the Principality club their second.

Mahdi Camara – 5

Abdullah Sima – 7

An impressive performance from Sima, who, like Ajorque, was fed with leftovers for a number of periods of the match, but was nevertheless effective and scored his goal excellently.

Ludovic Ajorque – 7

He was a willing runner, putting Monaco under good pressure throughout and linking the play for Brest. He was invaluable as he helped Les Pirates gain a foothold in this match. A goal at the death was a just reward for his efforts.

Romain Del Castillo – 4

Replaced at half-time by Kamory Doumbia (6), who made a significant difference and proved an evasive presence deep in Monaco's half.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle