C1: Kehrer offers Monaco victory in Bologna and a reassuring future

Monaco logically won on Tuesday evening in Bologna (1-0), during the 4th day of the Champions League, and with 10 points came very close to qualifying for the rest of the competition.

This goal scored by Thilo Kehrer in the 86th minute of a match that Monaco had generally dominated, came at the best time for the Principality’s players who could no longer make a difference.

It was once again from a set piece that Monaco escaped. Kehrer, unmarked at the far post, scored following a corner hit by Aleksandr Golovin, and subtly deflected by Breel Embolo.

Coach Adi Hütter’s rant after the non-match against Angers (1-0 defeat) at home on Friday therefore worked. His men have risen to the level required by the Champions League and are now 3rd in the standings before Wednesday’s matches.

This is so much the better because, from now on, the second half of their journey in the competition will be like a long and continuous climb. Kehrer and his team will host Benfica Lisbon on November 27, before traveling to London to face Arsenal on December 11. Then, in 2025, they will host the English side Aston Villa on January 21, before a trip to Milan to challenge Inter on the 29th.

So many teams aiming for direct qualification for the round of 16, or at worst, a place in the Top 16 of the competition. If in the Principality, we know that nothing is definitively acquired, a huge step has been taken.

The 400 Monegasques, drowned among the 26,154 spectators at the Dall’Ara Stadium, were therefore able to celebrate with their team at the end of the match. Monaco, which had never won in its history in Italy in the European Cup (one draw and seven defeats) has indeed achieved an excellent operation.

Embolo on the post

Established in 4-2-3-1 with the Magassa-Camara duo in double axial pivot, Christian Mawissa accompanied by Aleksandr Golovin on the left side, the Monegasques only took a quarter of an hour to create a wonderful opportunity.

Served full axis by Eliesse Ben Seghir, Breel Embolo managed a roulette on his oriented control to face the goal. His instant shot forced Bologna’s Polish goalkeeper, Lukasz Skorupski, to make a saving save and push the ball back to his left post (15th).

Subsequently Giovanni Fabbian, who had opened the way to the Monegasque goal, was caught by Mawissa (16th). But it was above all Hütter’s men who were in control of the situation.

If Wilfried Singo’s goal on Maghnes Akliouche’s corner was logically canceled, after using the video, for a charge by the Ivorian defender on the Bolognese goalkeeper (19th), the latter was perfect twice subsequently: on Golovin’s curled free kick (35th) and Akliouche’s shot (42nd).

His compatriot Radoslaw Majecki, less in demand, was however vigilant on a recovery from Sam Beukema, following a corner (40th), while Santiago Castro’s goal, in the process, was also refused for an off-kilter. blatant play by ex-Niçois Dan Ndoye at the start of the action (41st).

The second period was more complicated for the Monegasques. But like Magassa and Singo, excellent in duels, they were able to respond to the physical intensity imposed by Vicenzo Italiano’s players.