RC Lens – AS Monaco: Fun to Close the Season (4-0)

The hosts won convincingly, showing all their collective resources in the defensive phase. For the Monegasques, this match was not reflective of their season, which had been all about fluidity and the functionality of their attacking midfielders.

Tactical analysis and match report by Juan Lauz.

Two of the most entertaining teams to watch in this Ligue 1 faced off; both, of course, had nothing at stake on this final matchday. Will Still's RC Lens no longer had a chance to qualify for the UEFA Europa League, despite finishing in a more than respectable eighth place, whilst Addi Hutter's AS Monaco closed out another great campaign by qualifying once again for the UEFA Champions League. Two of the league's most consistent teams over recent seasons.

However, the hosts wanted to give their fans a good end to the season, and they did so using a 3-4-3 formation, which shifted into a 5-4-1 shape out of possession. The back three consisted of Jonathan Gradit, Abdulay Bah, and Facundo Medina; as wingbacks, Anass Zaroury on the left and Ruben Aguilar on the right; centrally, the double pivot of Adrien Thomasson and Neil El Aynaoui. Up top, a key player for holding the ball and helping the team gain territory: Goduine Koyalipou.

The visitors, meanwhile, lined up at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis with some rotations within their usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Notable inclusions were Soungoutou Magassa in the double pivot alongside Lamine Camara, Eliesse Ben Seghir and Krépin Diatta as wide playmakers (or interior attacking midfielders, more accurately . . .