AS Monaco – Olympique Lyonnais: Champions League Ticket! (2-0)

A reward for Monaco’s highly consistent season: a convincing win and European qualification. The other side of the coin was a lifeless Olympique Lyonnais, with a second half to forget.

Tactical analysis and match report by Juan Lauz.

A decisive penultimate matchday in Ligue 1, to say the least, for AS Monaco. The Monegasques, with a victory, would have mathematically secured their place in the group stage of the next UEFA Champions League; a win would have extended their lead over Nice (4th place, which qualifies for the playoff round) to four points with only three points left to play for on the final matchday.

On the other side, the opposite scenario: Olympique Lyonnais arrived at the Stade Louis II amid an unprecedented financial crisis, with a provisional administrative relegation to Ligue 2. Their last hope? To win this fixture and reach 57 points—level with Nice, Lille, and Strasbourg (the latter two holding Europa League spots)—in order to fight for a European competition spot next season.

For this crucial encounter, the Monegasques, led by Adi Hütter, fielded their best XI in a 4-2-2-2 formation, showcasing their standout attacking midfield duo of France’s latest gem Maghnes Akliouche and Takumi Minamino. Breel Embolo returned to the team, replacing Folarin Balogun, who had been definitively reconverted into a central attacking midfielder, behind striker Mika Biereth—who, after a brilliant start following his winter transfer, had scored only once in his last five Ligue 1 matches.

The visitors, managed by Paulo Fonseca, switched their system for the match, oscillating between a 4-3-1-2 and a 4-3-3 formation, making three . . .