PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 3-2 Brest: Maghnes Akliouche-inspired Monégasques win all-Champions League encounter

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Round 12, 22/10/24

AS Monaco edged out fellow UEFA Champions League side Stade Brestois (3-2) thanks to a brace from the impressive Maghnes Akliouche.

The Match 

Monaco netted with their first attack of the match. It was a slick move in transition with Breel Embolo releasing Eliesse Ben Seghir who found Maghnes Akliouche in the box. It was a well-taken first-time effort from the academy product and he could have doubled his tally just minutes later but through one-on-one, he could only find the inside of the post. 

Things went from bad to worse for Brest as they lost Pierre Lees-Melou to injury before the 25-minute mark and by the half-hour mark, they were two goals down. Lees-Melou’s replacement, Edimilson Fernandes’ stray pass fell to the feet of Aleksandr Golovin, whose shot from outside the box clipped the post on its way in.

Les Monégasques weren’t entirely dominant, however, and the returning duo Abdallah Sima and Ludovic Ajorque combined well to feed off the scraps they were fed. The former almost halved the deficit on the break but his effort on the turn was deflected by Vanderson. 

It was Monaco, however, who should have extended their advantage with Embolo missing a gild-edged chance on the stroke of half-time. 

Kamory Doumbia replaced the ineffective Romain Del Castillo at the break and he made a difference, finding spaces and exploiting them deep inside the Monaco half and Brest did reduce the deficit thanks to Sima’s close-range header from a corner. 

Mama Baldé had a golden chance to level the scores, whilst Marco Bizot saved well from George Ilenikhena before Soungoutou Magassa put the rebound agonisingly wide. Monaco settled the game through Akliouche, slid through by George Ilenkihena, he kept his cool to chip Marco Bizot. 

Ludovic Ajorque netted a late consolation but Monaco take the three points to close the gap to leaders Paris Saint-Germain to three points ahead of Les Parisiens’ match against Toulouse FC. Brest’s losing run in Ligue 1 stretches to three games.

Monaco player ratings

Radoslaw Majecki – 5

Christian Mawissa – 7

Mohammed Salisu – 6

Thilo Kehrer – 5

Vanderson – 5

Soungoutou Magassa – 8

After a difficult start to the season, Magassa has reacted brilliantly. Building on his performances against Bologna and RC Strasbourg Alsace, it was he rather than Zakaria who ran the midfield, showing aggression in the duels, progressing the ball and taking control of situations. 

Denis Zakaria – 5

Eliesse Ben Seghir – 7

Aleksandr Golovin – 8

All three of Monaco’s playmakers,s, Golovin, Akliouche and Ben Seghir were excellent, combing well on multiple occasions, especially in transitional phases of play. Golovin took his goal emphatically. That was his first goal contribution of the season and he needed such a performance

Maghnes Akliouche – 8

He is really knocking on the door of the France national team. Akliouche delivered an eye-catching display, it isn’t his first but he is adding efficiency and a ruthlessness in front of goal. He could have had three but the two that he took he took brilliantly and with confidence. 

Breel Embolo – 4

He did well to link the play for Monaco’s opener, however, he was once again wasteful, squandering the chance that could have put the Principality club three goals up, effectively killing the match.

Brest player ratings

Marco Bizot – 4

Jordan Amavi – 4

Brendan Chardonnet – 5

Julien Le Cardinal – 4

Kenny Lala – 5

Hugo Magnetti – 6

Pierre Lees-Melou – N/A

Replaced by Edimilson Fernandes (3) on the 22-minute mark. It was his stray pass that handed the Principality club their second. 

Mahdi Camara – 5

Abdallah Sima – 7

An impressive performance from Sima, who like Ajorque, fed off scraps for periods of the match but was nonetheless effective and took his goal excellently.

Ludovic Ajorque – 7

A willing runner, he pressed Monaco well throughout and linked play for Brest. He was invaluable for allowing Les Pirates to get a foothold in this match. A goal at the death was a just reward for his efforts.

Romain Del Castillo – 4

Replaced by Kamory Doumbia (6) at half-time, who made a significant difference and proving to be an evasive presence deep in Monaco’s half.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco.