AS Monaco – OGC Nice: A Blow in the Champions League Zone (2-1)

Two teams with serious aspirations to qualify for the UEFA Champions League went head-to-head. Monaco came out on top, not without some scares, but with Akliouche continuing to deliver a steady stream of talent.

Tactical analysis and match report by Juan Lauz.

A home victory in the Côte d'Azur Derby placed Addi Hütter's Monaco in a strong position to qualify directly for the next edition of the Champions League, facing their traditional adversary and direct rival in the standings: OGC Nice.

To achieve this goal, the hosts lined up with a starting eleven that had almost become second nature for Monaco fans: Philipp Köhn in goal, with Christian Mawissa and Thilo Kehrer as center-backs, and Caio Henrique on the left and Wilfried Singo on the right as fullbacks (replacing the regular Vanderson, who had been called up by Brazil for the previous international break and had just returned from his trip); in the double pivot, Denis Zakaria and Lamine Camara featured; Magnhes Akliouche and Takumi Minamino played as attacking midfielders, with Mika Biereth and Breel Embolo as forwards.

An eleven with up to six players from the second line operating in interior lanes and projecting wide on the flanks, with a very high volume of short-range movements for the players.

For their part, the visitors, tied on points with their rivals, sought the same goal: to make a statement away from home in the derby of the region. To do so, Franck Haise lined up with his usual 3-4-3 formation, with Dante, Youssouf Ndayishimiye, and Moise Bombito as center-backs; the wingbacks, providing width, were Ali . . .