AS Monaco continued to push their claim for a European berth with a 2-1 win over Troyes courtesy of Caio Henrique and Kevin Volland while resigning Ligue 1 Uber Eats champions LOSC drew a second match in a row 1-1, in Angers, and Nantes drew 1-1 in Brest.
THE MATCH
Monaco have blown hot and cold in what has already been a tumultuous season with a change of coach, but since beating PSG 3-0 in Round 29, Philippe Clément's men have been on song and on Sunday they made it three in a row with a deserved 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Troyes.
Nonetheless, the Monégasques didn't have it all their own way and even though Brazilian left-back Caio Henrique stunned the Stade Louis II crowd with a sumptuous free-kick to open the scoring, Monaco went into the break on level terms as Ike Ugbo had done well to level it up with a shot on the turn that cannoned in off Alexander Nübel's post (39').
Just before the hour-mark, however, Monaco class shone through as, following some fine work from Youssouf Fofana and Aleksandr Golovin down the left, substitute Kevin Volland brought down the Russian's cross with his knee before turning and firing home emphatically (57').
It was no less than the principality club deserved for their dominant display and, although Ugbo had a chance to level it up and clinch a precious point for Troyes, Caio Henrique beat him to Xavier Chavalerin's cross (68') and Monaco held out for the win - their fourth in five outings.
THE PLAYER: Kevin Volland
The German may not be in the kind of goal scoring form that saw him rack up 16 strikes last season, but he still has the quality to make the most of the slightest opportunity - as his deft control, turn and shot showed clearly. He now has six goals for the season as well as five assists, and if Monaco end up clinching a European place, every one of them will have been precious.
THE STAT: 1
The win takes Philippe Clément's side to within one point of Strasbourg (4th) and Nice (5th) ahead of their difficult Round 31 clashes with Lyon and Lens respectively, piling the pressure on in the race for a European berth.
Meanwhile for Troyes, who are just one point clear of Lorient in 15th, the defeat is their first in six outings and could prove a missed opportunity as they stare down the barrel of a run-in that involves Strasbourg, OGC Nice, LOSC, Paris Saint-Germain and RC Lens.
LOSC held, Brest deny Nantes
Elsewhere in France, reigning Ligue 1 Uber Eats champions LOSC were held to a 1-1 in Angers. While the result - in which Tiago Djalo scored an own-goal (64') before substitute Edon Zhegrova clinched a point with an unbelievable strike (74') - stretched LOSC's undefeated Ligue 1 Uber Eats run to eight matches, it also kept Les Dogues, currently seventh, in the hunt for Europe.
In Brittany, Nantes were out to keep pace with LOSC and Monaco as they took on Brest, but their hopes of a three-point haul were snuffed out when Brendan Chardonnet (66') cancelled out Randal Kolo Muani's opener (9').
