PLAYER RATINGS | Bologna 0-1 Monaco: Thilo Kehrer hands Monaco late victory to greatly enhance Champions League qualification hopes

UEFA Champions League, Matchday 4, 05/11/24

AS Monaco bounced back from disappointment in Ligue 1 to continue their unbeaten run in the UEFA Champions League with a 1-0 victory away to Bologna. 

The Match

Whilst the first chance of the match fell to Juan Miranda, who blazed over from inside the box, it was the visitors who had the better opportunities in the first half. Breel Embolo, who did well to turn his defender and bear down on Lukasz Skorupski, saw his effort tipped onto the post by the Polish shot-stopper. 

Minutes later, Monaco had the ball in the back of the net after Wilfried Singo challenged Skorupski in the air and headed home before VAR’s intervention saw the effort ruled out. Les Monégasques continued to push: Embolo should have done better when put through on goal but dallied, allowing the defender to recover, Aleksandr Golovin forced a strong save from a free-kick, and Maghnes Akliouche also went close after creating room for a shot inside the box. 

Bologna had their chances too, notably through Sam Beukema, who forced Radoslaw Majecki into a reaction save, whilst Santiago Castro also had the ball in the back of the net only for the offside flag to be raised. 

Upon the return from the dressing room, Bologna grew into the match and got a restless home crowd on their side. However, unlike Monaco when they were in the ascendancy, they couldn’t frequently create high-quality chances. The best chance fell to Giovanni Fabbian, who got goal-side of Thilo Kehrer before blasting straight at Majecki. 

The game drifting towards a draw, which may have suited both sides, Les Monégasques snatched all three points with Kehrer popping up at the back post to latch on to Embolo’s flick-on and poke home. The victory means that Monaco now have 10 points a figure that statisticians believe will be sufficient to ensure qualification for the knock-out phase of the competition. 

Monaco player ratings 

Radoslaw Majecki – 6

Christian Mawissa – 6

Thilo Kehrer – 6

Not the German international’s most composed performance and his play out from the back was at times suspect, however, he kept switched on and pounced at the back post to ensure a last-gasp victory. 

Wilfried Singo – 7

A typically combative and error-free performance from Singo on his return to Italy. The former Torino defender swept well on multiple occasions, winning his duels and preventing some dangerous situations.

Vanderson – 5

Soungoutou Magassa – 6

Lamine Camara – 5

Eliesse Ben Seghir – 6

Aleksandr Golovin – 6

Maghnes Akliouche – 7

The most dangerous and creative of Monaco’s attacking arsenal. He advanced the ball well, either through dribbles or through his excellent distribution. 

Breel Embolo – 5

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Bologna