A Cesc Fabregas penalty set Monaco en route to a 4-0 win over Metz on Saturday as the principality side struck all their goals in a sizzling second half to move into the top three in the Ligue 1 Uber Eats table.
THE MATCH
Metz had scored twice in their last three away matches in Ligue 1, but that series came to a shuddering halt as Monaco kept a third successive clean sheet for the first time in more than three years, pulling away from the visitors after the break at the Stade Louis II.
Stevan Jovetic — preferred to Wissam ben Yedder in the starting XI — looked to have missed a glorious opportunity to give the hosts an early lead when he shot wide after rounding Marc-Aurèle Caillard (8'), but the offside flag would have ruled out his effort anyway.
His strike partner, Kevin Volland, headed off a post (33') before Pape Yade forced a fine save from Benjamin Lecomte (41') to remind Niko Kovac's men they were up against a side that are making a surprise run for a European quailfying place.
But Monaco's class shone through after break. When Jovetic was felled by Caillard, Fabregas tucked away the spot-kick (50') and Volland quickly doubled the lead after Eliot Matazo — the 19-year-old Belgian midfielder making his first Ligue 1 start — had burst through a number of Metz challenges (52').
If the Germany international's 14th league strike of the season gave Monaco breathing space, Ben Yedder, who had replaced Jovetic on 64 minutes, made sure they could relax fully when he brought down Caio Henrique's ball, swivelled, and fired high past Caillard (77') to match Volland's league tally.
The France international forward then moved ahead of his teammate when John Boye brought down Gelson Martins inside the box. As Boye headed to the dressing room following a second yellow card, Ben Yedder sent Caillard the wrong way (89') to leave Monaco two points clear of Lyon, who play Lens late on Saturday evening, and just a single point behind Paris Saint-Germain and Lille, who face each other late on Saturday afternoon.
THE PLAYER: Eliot Matazo
The teenager, signed from Anderlecht's youth academy in summer 2019, had made his first senior start in the Coupe de France in February, but this was his maiden top-flight start. Not that you would have known it. Assured with and without the ball, his run that laid Volland's goal on a plate for the ex-Hoffenheim and Leverkusen forward showed both his maturity and his talent.
THE STAT: 12
Monaco are unbeaten in their last 12 home games against Metz, winning eight of them. They have also lost just once in their last 16 top-flight matches.
