RC Lens – AS Monaco: Les Sang Et Or Lose Ground In Ligue 1 Title Race (2-3)

AS Monaco came from behind to stun RC Lens’s title charge. It looked as if it would be business as usual for Pierre Sage’s Lens when they went two goals ahead against an inconsistent and injury-ridden Monaco side. However, Sébastien Pocognoli’s men showed what had been missing for so much of the season: determination. A fantastic result ahead of what could be a season-defining game against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League. 

Tactical analysis and match report by Nick Hartland.

RC Lens are in an unlikely title race, despite what their head coach, Pierre Sage, might say. Coming into this weekend, they were top of the table, ahead of Paris Saint-Germain by a single point. A fantastic situation for a club that was only considered an outside bet for European qualification at the start of the season. However, injuries have slowly begun to pick up for what has been a settled squad. 

AS Monaco have been wondering if they’ve inadvertently entered a Freaky Friday scenario with Lens; they’re a team that started the season hopeful that they could be challenging PSG, but have found themselves outside the European spots ahead of this weekend. A long list of injuries have damaged Monaco’s credentials this season, but recent results in the league have shown signs of improvement. 

No surprises as Sage lined his side up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, but he would be without three of his key performers with Samson Baidoo, Mamadou Sangaré, and . . .