Gautier Larsonneur put in a stunning performance at the Stade Louis II, pulling off a string of saves as well as stopping a Wissam Ben Yedder penalty, but his goal was eventually breached by Stevan Jovetic and Kevin Volland as AS Monaco beat Stade Brestois 29 2-0.
AS Monaco 2-0 Stade Brestois 29
THE MATCH
Monaco welcomed Brest to the principality on the back of an 11-match undefeated run, extended last Sunday with an impressive 2-0 win at Paris Saint-Germain, and they started brightly on a sunny day on the Mediterranean coast. Ruben Aguilar fired a cross in for Ben Yedder with the first attack of the game, but Brest shot-stopper Larsonneur repelled the danger (3'). Sofiane Diop (7') and Aurélien Tchouaméni (20') then had off-target efforts as the hosts tried to turn their possessional dominance into goals. They had a gilt-edged chance to do just that on the half hour after Aguilar forced a handball from Romain Perraud in the Brest box, but Larsonneur guessed right with Ben Yedder's subsequent spot-kick, denying the France forward what would have been a 14th goal of the campaign (30'). Steve Mounié then had a chance at the other end, his acrobatic effort from a corner drifting wide (32'), and referee Jérémie Pignard's whistle for half-time went with the deadlock intact.
Larsonneur unlucky
Ben Yedder wasted little time in trying to get Monaco going in the second half, drawing another fine save from Larsonneur after meeting Volland's cutback (47'). Brest nonetheless made Monaco work, and their offensive pressing nearly reaped its reward when Jean Lucas - who was not allowed to play against parent club Olympique Lyonnais last Friday - slipped Mounié through, but the big striker's shot deflected off Benoît Badiashile and out for a goal-kick (52'). Caio Henrique was the next to try his luck for the hosts, volleying at goal with his weaker right foot, but the shot cannoned back off the crossbar (54'). Diop (56') and Aguilar (57') were then both denied by Larsonneur from close range in a good period of pressure for the hosts. Niko Kovac sent Jovetic, Aleksandr Golovin and Krépin Diatta on for the final half hour (59') and the three combined to give Monaco a hard-fought lead; Jovetic finishing a fine move, and Brest's resistance (76'). Lucas span two late free-kicks wide (83') and into the wall (87') before Volland added from metres out (90').
THE PLAYER: Gautier Larsonneur
Larsonneur began the season as Brest's first choice in goal but has been dropped in recent in favour of former PSG youngster Sébastien Cibois. Back in following last weekend's 3-2 loss to Lyon, local boy Larsonneur grabbed his chance - and Ben Yedder's penalty - with both hands at the Stade Louis II, and can expect to keep his place for Wednesday's clash with Dijon FCO
THE STAT: 40%
Brest remain something of a banana skin for Monaco. The principality side have only won two of their five meetings with les Pirates - the last victory a 4-1 triumph in September 2019 in which Ben Yedder did score. The clubs' overall head-to-head record reads: five games played, three wins for Brest, two for Monaco.
