THE MATCH

Montpellier had been the league's in-form team of December winning all four games, but they had failed to pick up a point in two top-flight outings in 2022 and were without Téji Savanier as he started a three-game ban following his red card in the midweek defeat to Troyes.

Oliver Dall'Oglio only made one change from the team beaten 1-0 on Wednesday with Valère Germain coming in for the suspended captain, but the hosts looked fresh and inventive as they took the game to Monaco in the opening half-hour.

Elye Wahi and Mavididi's pace and trickery did so much damage to a rather lumbering back four, and the pair teamed up to put Montpellier 2-0 up. First, a Mavididi shot was deflected into the path of Wahi, who sent a crisp half-volley past Alexander Nübel (13'). Then, Jordan Ferri won the ball back and found Wahi, who touched a pass into the feet of Mavididi, who shot low beyond Nübel from 20 metres (32').

The Stade de la Mosson barely had time to settle than Monaco settled them. With the home side still seemingly barely believing their good start, Aurélien Tchouameni clipped a delightful ball in behind Mamadou Sakho and Wissam ben Yedder netted a league-leading 13th goal of the season with a deft header (34').

Just as the pair had exchanged goals, they swapped chances in the second half. Nübel was in the right place at the right time to block Wahi's close-range effort (57') before Jonas Omlin was at full stretch to turn Sofiane Diop's low drive around the corner (58').

Mavididi (79') and Ben Yedder (80') also had half-chances before Vanderson netted a superb first goal in French football, swivelling to send a left-foot volley across Omlin and into the far corner to equalise with time running out (82').

Valère Germain — against the side where he started his career and won the 2016/17 title — might have restored Montpellier's lead had his shot not struck Florent Mollet (83') while Ben Yedder shimmied around Sakho only not to get sufficient power on his shot to beat Omlin (86').

In a frantic finish, Nübel produced a breath-taking double save to deny Arnaud Souquet and Mollet — substitute Nicolas Gioacchini should have scored with the on-loan Bayern Munich goalkeeper stranded after his heroics, but the USA-born forward sent his shot over the bar with the goal gaping (86').

It looked like Nübel had done enough to maintain Philippe Clement's unbeaten start to life as Monaco coach, but Mavididi had the final word, crashing a shot high beyond Nübel after Nicolas Cozza's reverse ball had brilliantly teed him up (90+1') to send Montpellier above their opponents and into sixth.

THE PLAYER: Stephy Mavididi

The former Arsenal and Juventus striker was impressive in his first season at the Stade de la Mosson, but is really taking flight this term. He now has eight league goals this season — a team-high tally — and his understanding with Wahi in particular, as well as his individual pace, power and trickery on the ball caused Monaco untold problems.

THE STAT: 5

This was Montpellier's first win over Monaco in five games since they triumphed 3-1 at home in October 2019.

Bordeaux ended a three-game losing streak in a seven-goal thriller with Strasbourg, who came into the match in fourth place. Hwang Ui-Jo's brace and Alberth Elis' goal had the hosts 3-0 up before Kevin Gameiro struck twice to reduce their lead to one. Hwang struck again in the final minute before Majeed Waris netted seven minutes into added time in one of the games of the season.

Rennes missed the opportunity to overhaul Julien Stéphan's men as they surrendered the lead at Clermont to lose 2-1 — former Rennes youth academy youngsters Lucas Da Cunha and Jordan Tell found the net for the hosts as Pascal Gastien's men picked up only their second win in 11 matches.

The Breton derby between Nantes and Lorient burst into life in the second half. Andrei Girotto's 39th-minute goal had Nantes ahead at the break, but it finished 4-2 to Les Canaris in the end as Lorient extended their winless run to 15 league matches.

Troyes also took the lead at Angers, but Thomas Mangani netted a pair of first-half penalties to give the hosts a 2-1 win that eases them away from trouble.

>> MATCH REPORT: Nice reclaim second with Metz win