AS Monaco qualified on Tuesday 10 August for the Champions League play-offs, the last obstacle before the group stage, thanks to their 3-1 victory at home against Sparta Prague and will face, in the next round, the Shakhtar Donetsk. Thanks to this success built mainly after the break, the Louis-II stadium will experience a new European evening, against a regular in the C1.
The opposition will undoubtedly be more fierce than that proposed by Sparta Prague, sometimes attractive and always combative but too limited to recover the two goals conceded in the first leg (0-2).
With more intensity and certainly more electricity. Because to qualify for the group stage of the Champions League – and ensure in passing at least 30 million euros in income – Niko Kovac’s team will have to raise its level of play.
Six decisive minutes
After a lackluster first period, the Monegasques made the difference in six minutes. After another stop by Nita on Volland (48e), after an unframed recovery from Aurélien Tchouameni (49e), Gelson Martins was late following a one-two with Volland to finally beat the opposing goalkeeper, who had anticipated a cross (1-0, 50e). Reassured, Monaco then mastered the meeting. Ben Yedder’s pass to Golovin in the box allowed the Russian to double the bet (2-0, 56e).
Kovac, who knows five new games await his players in August, made his five changes. But the match was unintentionally restarted by Nübel, who, by missing a new short raise, destabilized his team and allowed David Karlsson to score (2-1, 78e).
Very quickly, Sofiane Diop, just entered, offered a series of high performance, which this time sealed the match (3-1, 81e) and the Monaco meeting with the Shakhtar, who got rid of the Belgians from Genk.
Sofiane Diop dribbles the Czech defense to score the 3rd goal ? The midfielder makes his technique speak to give back… https://t.co/8QekJhXvFQ