PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 3-1 Nantes: Simon Adingra nets brace as 10-men ASM hold on for win

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 22, 13/02/26

Despite going down to 10-men, AS Monaco held on to claim all three points, with Simon Adingra making the difference for the Principality club (3-1). 

 The Match

The first half was the definition of one-way traffic. Nantes were only spared by some imprecise Monaco finishing and some last-ditch heroics in the opening 25 minutes. By then, Monaco could have already netted at least two, through Folarin Balogun and Wout Faes, who went agonisingly close, but it was Sunderland loanee Adingra who would provide that finishing touch. 

It was a Balogun shot palmed lightly into the path of the Ivorian, who accepted the invitation to finish into the empty net, that instigated the sinking of the Nantais ship. Three minutes later, Adingra had his second, curling past Anthony Lopes first time, and by 30 minutes in, it was three, Denis Zakaria finishing a move that he had started with his interception in midfield. 

Nantes gave themselves a glimmer of hope just before the break thanks to a finish from Fabien Centonze, and it could have been more than a glimmer had Abakar Sylla put his header on target with the last touch of the first half. 

Monaco gave their visitors another dose of hope just after the hour mark when Aleksandr Golovin was shown two yellow cards in quick succession, the first for protesting the referee’s decision, the second for sarcastically applauding the first yellow.

But their man advantage was not put to good use. Kohn was not tested in the Monaco goal and it was the hosts who had the best chance to add to their lead, with Ansu Fati going close in injury time, with the game already settled as a contest. Nantes remain in big trouble at the bottom, and Monaco keep themselves in contention to secure European football.

Monaco player ratings

Philipp Kohn – 5

Caio Henrique – 5

Thilo Kehrer – 4

Wout Faes – 5

Vanderson – 6

Lamine Camara – 7

Denis Zakaria – 7

Simon Adingra – 8

After a couple of performances of promise, the Sunderland loanee truly announced himself to Ligue 1 here. His touches in the game were limited, but he was lethal, with a wand of a right foot capable of getting plenty of curl on the ball. His first goal was predatory, his second was elegant. The Ivorian’s body shape was perfect as the ball arrived, and his finish was simple but technically faultless.

Aleksandr Golovin – 5

Excellent in the first half, the Russian registered assists for two of Monaco’s goals and, in contrast to recent weeks, he frequently made the correct and most positive decisions in the final third. But he then blotted his copybook with a moment of madness, the like of which we have seen from him before. His two yellow cards in less than five seconds put his side on the backfoot for the rest of the match, leading them to cling on. 

Maghnes Akliouche – N/A

The France international was withdrawn with an injury in the 41st minute, replaced by Mamadou Coulibaly (4). 

Folarin Balogun – 6

Selected Nantes player ratings

Matthis Abline – 4

Abakar Sylla – 2

Anthony Lopes – 3

Chidozie Awaziem – 6

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco