What a shame Golovin didn’t score against PSG! Monaco resisted Mbappé, but failed to defeat the champion
Anatoly Romanov March 2, 2024, 01:20 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
Overall, Alexander played a good game. And his team still has a good chance of entering the Champions League zone.
Alexander Golovin’s Monaco drew with French champion PSG. The Russian himself was close to scoring in the central match of the tour.
Golovin started and played in midfield in a 4-4-2 formation. Monaco coach Adi Hütter generally presented a rather daring line-up with the attacking quartet of Akliushe, Minamino, Balogun and Ben Yedder. The first two acted on the flanks of the attack, and the last couple formed a duo of attackers. At the same time, the Monegasques calmly gave the ball to PSG, having only about 30% and relying on quick counterattacks. Monaco did not refuse to apply pressure, which the hosts activated depending on the situation.
The Parisians controlled the ball, but not the game. On the contrary, Monaco’s attacks were much more dangerous. Balogun could have scored an early goal, but Donnarumma scored it. Then a penalty would probably have been awarded against PSG if Balogun himself had fallen in the area after a challenge from an opponent and had not remained standing. The desire to finish the episode worked against the forward himself.
Midway through the first half, Monaco finally scored, but Ben Yedder was slightly offside and the goal was disallowed. Golovin had not been the center of attention before, but at the end of the half hour he had the perfect opportunity to open the scoring. The Monegasques continued to exploit the gaps in the center of the defense and in the PSG mid-wings, and after Donnarumma’s shot and save, the Russian finished the ball from 9-10 meters. The Italian could not save, but Golovin hit the defender’s leg. A very offensive failure.
In the last round, Monaco beat a Champions League participant:
Crazy game for Golovin and Monaco! He had to be a hero in the 90+2 minute.
The PSG star, Mbappé, unlike our legionnaire, had never faced the ball in the local area before the break, if we do not take into account the episode in which he tried to score, being caught offside and suffering a slight injury. Ankle injury. Once Kylian made a dangerous shot from outside the area, and in another episode he created a chance with a brilliant back-heel pass for Asensio. Furthermore, I remember Mbappé’s fall in the Monaco area, when the forward asked for a penalty, but it seemed that there was no foul. Otherwise, Mbappé was not spectacular in the match with his former team.
And after the break, PSG entered the field without Kylian. Luis Enrique changed Mbappé, apparently to save him before the Champions League. For the same reason, most likely, Dembélé started the match on the bench. Mbappé, in a good mood, went to the stands, where his mother-agent was waiting for him, and finished the game with a hit and a dribble. And the course of the match did not change after the break: PSG had the ball, Monaco created chances on counterattacks. Judge Buquet had another reason to sanction the French champion for hitting the ball in his hand, but in this case too the referee upset the locals with his decision.
But after an hour of play, when PSG completely changed its attacking trio and the Monegasques got tired, Luis Enrique’s team began to penetrate more and more into Maetsky’s area and create scoring chances. Barcola, Kolo Muani and Dembélé made good use of the available space. Here the Polish goalkeeper of Monaco showed himself, who had the opportunity to remove Koen from the starting lineup: he made several saves.
However, the energy of the new PSG players was not enough until the final whistle. In the end the game was heading towards a tie and that’s how it ended. The final 0-0 score probably didn’t disappoint anyone much. As for shots, there was also a draw – 14:14 (at goal – 6:7, from the area – 12:7).
Golovin’s statistics in the match against PSG: 43 touches of the ball (one in another’s area), one shot, 86% accurate passes, two passes under attack, two dribbles, four tackles, two interceptions, one clearance, seven duels wins of 12, two infractions and a self-inflicted foul. Alexander received one of the highest ratings for Monaco on the Sofascore website – 7.6 points. Even though the Russian didn’t threaten the goal much due to his deep position on the field, he had a decent game.
