Aurelien Tchouaméni was the stand-out performer against his former side Bordeaux as he inspired Monaco to a 3-0 triumph that maintain's the principality side's upward momentum.
THE MATCH
Neither side had had the start they would have hoped for and both came into the game hovering around mid-table. Monaco had improved of late though with five competitive matches without defeat, but with his team having draw in Spain against Real Sociedad in Thursday's UEFA Europa League game, coach Niko Kovac radically switched his side around, retaining just three men in the starting XI.
Bordeaux had just seven points from eight games — their slowest start to a season in the 21st century — but arrived in the principality unbeaten in three, and Vladimir Petkovic's men would have taken an early lead but for Guillermo Maripan clearing Timothée Pembélé's effort off the line (18').
Tchouaméni was one of the trio that started here after beginning the game in Spain too and the France international showed no signs of fatigue. He tested Benoît Costil (29') and then played in Kevin Volland for a strike that was ruled out for offside (31') before breaking the deadlock himself.
Against the club with whom he made his Ligue 1 Uber Eats debut, he was on hand at the back post after Wissam ben Yedder had failed to connect with Aleksandr Golovin's free-kick to bring the ball down and fire beyond Costil (36'). Given his connections to Les Girondins, Tchouaméni did not celebrate his first goal of the 2021/22 season.
Monaco would soon build on that after the break. Literally reversing the roles played in the opening goal, Tchouaméni and Ben Yedder linked up before the home captain fed Golovin, who deftly claimed his second goal of the season (48').
Tchouaméni was proving unplayable, and struck the crossbar (51') before Volland had another goal ruled out for offside (52'). There was no VAR reprieve though when Edson Mexer brought down Sofiane Diop and Ben Yedder sent Costil the wrong way from the spot (63') — his fifth goal in four top-flight outings — to give Monaco a handsome and welcome win.
THE PLAYER: Aurélien Tchouaméni
Arguably the young midfielder's most complete performance to date in a season where he has constantly impressed. Might have had a second goal, and it wouldn't have been undeserved.
THE STAT: 14
Bordeaux have now conceded in each of their last 14 away matches in the French top flight, equalling their worst run since August 1988-March 1989.
Elsewhere, Nantes picked up a third win in four outings as second-half goals from Ludovic Blas and Andrei Girotto earned them three points at home to Troyes. Mohamed Bayo struck an early goal for Clermont at Lorient but Julien Laporte's second-hald strike earned the hosts a point and kept them in touch with the top three. Stéphane Bahoken's added-time winner sunk Metz, who had led twice at Angers in a five-goal thriller. Gerald Baticle's side are fourth in the table.
