THE MATCH

Monaco bounced into this Round 20 fixture on the back of a 3-0 win over Angers SCO - one that coach Niko Kovac described as his side's "best match of the season" - and they dominated from the off, even without injured midfield string-puller Cesc Fabregas. Volland deservedly broke the deadlock for the visitors midway through the half. Djibril Sidibé's corner found Ben Yedder, and when his scissor-kick bounced back off Jonas Omlin's crossbar, Volland was on hand to volley home the rebound (24'). Ben Yedder then fired high on the turn (31') before getting the goal his shrewd positioning deserved. This time Caio Henrique crossed into the box, and a deft backward header was enough to beat the Montpellier shot-stopper (35'). Monaco might have carried a 3-0 lead into the break but Youssouf Fofana blazed a good chance wide (45'+1).

Montpellier mount fightback

The teams, and indeed the flow of the game, were unchanged at the start of the second half, and Monaco pulled further clear after Daniel Congré's poor challenge - all man no ball - in the Montpellier area. Ben Yedder then stepped up to stroke home his ninth goal of the campaign from 12 yards (61'). La Paillade seemed to be spurred into action by that, though, and reduced the arrears moments later when Andy Delort's cross, intended for Gaëtan Laborde, found its way to Elye Wahi, the 18-year-old opening his account for the club in fine style with a first-time finish back across Benjamin Lecomte's goal (64'). Delort then took matters into his own hands, making it 3-2 with a close-range finish (69'). Aleksander Golovin should have settled Monaco's nerves when he got round Omlin but his tamely hit effort was cleared off the line (73'). Lecomte then kept a long-range Delort effort (75') and Monaco saw out the win.

THE PLAYER: Kevin Volland

Volland had also earned the corner which led to his opener and pulled onto 10 goals for the season with that fine first-time finish. After a slow start following his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen, the 10-time Germany international has had a hand in 14 goals from 12 Ligue 1 Uber Eats games, and Joachim Löw will surely be tempted to give him a first cap since November 16 before UEFA Euro 2020 if he can keep up that kind of form

THE STAT: 21

Monaco deserved to win here despite the late scare. The principality side had 21 shots on goal to their opponent's 12. They also won 24 tackles to Montpellier's 12 and will feel confident of giving Olympique de Marseille a good game in what is a six-pointer in the race for Europe next Saturday.