PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 2-2 OGC Nice: Ansu Fati and Sofiane Diop net braces in entertaining Côte d’Azur derby

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 7, 05/10/25

AS Monaco and OGC Nice played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Stade Louis II, with Ansu Fati and Sofiane Diop netting braces for their respective sides.

The Match 

Amid a flat atmosphere created by the boycott from the Nice ultras, there was a lethargy to the opening exchanges from both sides. Monaco had a warning on the 16-minute mark as Antoine Mendy headed home a cross from Charles Vanhoutte, but the former had not come back onside following the initial corner sequence. 

But the warning was not heeded, and after a period of sustained pressure, Nice had their breakthrough thanks to a former Monégasque, Sofiane Diop. The Gym forward’s effort was flighted vaguely towards the backpost, but without a teammate getting on the end of it and with Mohammed Salisu ducking under it, its flight ended in Philipp Kohn’s far corner.

However, the Principality club were handed a boost just after the half-hour mark when Ali Abdi, already on a yellow, brought his foot down on Mika Biereth, already on the ground, and received his marching orders. 

But, just as they did against AJ Auxerre, Monaco conceded despite their numerical advantage. The goal came courtesy of a controversially awarded penalty, with the ball appearing to strike Krépin Diatta’s chest before his arm. The penalty stood, and Diop sent Kohn the wrong way to double his account.

Monaco did little to earn their reprieve, but they did get it in second-half injury time as the ball struck a flailing Antoine Mendy arm. Ansu Fati’s effort from the penalty spot was not convincing, but despite Yehvann Diouf getting a strong arm to it, it did ensure that Les Monégasques headed into the break just one goal down. 

It was another penalty, the third of the day, that levelled the scores. Jordan Teze’s ball over the top was met by substitute Folarin Balogun, who got in front of Moise Bombito and was brought down. The Nice defender looked to have suffered a leg break in the process. After a lengthy stoppage, Fati kept his cool to net his second penalty of the day.

Monaco pushed for a winner but struggled to break down Nice’s 5-3-1 block, more often than not simply recycling the ball and playing around and not through the dense central area. It is a tactic that yielded little success, but there were still two chances, both of which fell to George Ilenikhena, both of which went begging. The first was the better of the chances as his mis-time free header from seven yards out went just wide of the far post; the second was smoothered by Diouf, who was quick on his feet and made the save.

Akliouche, once again quiet, as he has been for several weeks, almost caught Diouf out with a curled effort towards the back post in injury-time, but despite a late push, they couldn’t find the finish. The game ends in a draw that doesn’t really suit any side’s ambitions.

Monaco player ratings

Philipp Kohn – 3

Kassoum Ouattara – 5

Mohammed Salisu – 4

Eric Dier – 5

Krépin Diatta – 4

Takumi Minamino -5

Mamadou Coulibaly – 5

Replaced by Folarin Balogun (5) at half-time.

Jordan Teze – 7

Pushed higher up and more centrally due to the absences in midfield, he has shown an aptitude for his new position. He certainly has an eye for a pass, playing in Balogun for the action that led to the second penalty and then playing in Ilenikhena later in the second half.

Maghnes Akliouche – 5

Ansu Fati – 7

Very quiet in the first half, he got both of Monaco’s goals and currently has an excellent minutes-per-goal ratio at his new club. His impact in the second half was not simply felt through his second goal, once again from the spot, but also from his liveliness and ability to pick up spaces in what was a very compact block. If Monaco were going to get anything, he was always going to be a part of it. 

Mika Biereth – 5

OGC Nice player ratings 

Yehvann Diouf – 6

Melvin Bard – 6

Moise Bombito – 5

Antoine Mendy – 5

Ali Abdi – N/A

Charles Vanhoutte – 7

Once again, Vanhoutte was the man pulling the strings, recycling the ball, recovering the ball. When Nice were in a low block in the second half, it was the Belgian who was the organiser and marshalling the limited space in between the lines.

Hicham Boudaoui – 5

Jonathan Clauss – 5

Sofiane Diop – 7

Quite the return to the Stade Louis II for the former Monégasque. When the game was played 11v11, he was the standout player and looked back to his best. Struggling for form and rhythm, it is the kind of performance that should allow him to get back to his best.

Mohamed-Ali Cho – 4

Terem Moffi – N/A

The player to be hooked after Abdi’s red card, Moffi was replaced by Kojo Peprah Oppong (5) before the 40-minute mark. 

GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco



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