Champions League: Monaco concedes a draw against PSV Eindhoven

The Monegasques had control of the meeting during the first half hour before being trapped. Victory escapes them, despite the big opportunities they had at the end of the match.

Le Monde with AFP and reuters

Monaco conceded a draw (1-1) against the Dutch of the PSV Eindhoven Tuesday August 2, during the third preliminary round of the Champions League. The Monegasques had control during the first half hour of the meeting before being trapped. Victory escapes them, despite the big opportunities they had at the end of the match.

Red and white will have to win at Phillips Stadium in a week to qualify in dams. 2>

veerman in majesty

After having conceded a magnificent goal from Joey Veerman (39 e ) during a first insipidy period, the Monegasques were able to return after the break, notably thanks to the dynamism of the entrants, like the recruit Switzerland Breel Embolo and the International Hope Sofiane Diop.

The Monegasque power, embodied by the central defender Axel Disasi, author of the equalization at the reception of a free kick of Ismail Jakobs, deviated from the head by Youssouf Fofana (80 ), can give reasons of hope to Philippe Clement, the coach, on the return. Especially since his men even almost prevailed at the very end of the game. But the resumption of the head of Fofana struck the opposing post (88 e ).

In the afternoon, the Monegasques had learned that in the event of qualification they would be opposed to the winners of the meetings between the Union Saint-Gilloise and the Rangers, the 16-17 and 23-24, with a Back to Louis-II avoiding the Benfica ogre. To achieve this, players from the Principality now know that it will be necessary to impose themselves in the Netherlands. But as the goals scored outside have no value in the event of a draw, everything remains to be done.

Clément changes everything ahead

For this opening of the season, Philippe Clement chose the entry offensive. With the Minamino-Volland-Ben Yedder-Golovin quartet at the forefront, but without the most used sides during the preparation.

The Brazilian offensive Vanderson has been preferred to Ruben Aguilar, yet the man who played the most in the past six weeks. Caio Henrique, touched by the covid, was replaced by an Ismail Jakobs long in difficulty on the left side in the face of the liveliness of the Hispano-Moroccan Ismael Saibari. Moreover, after an in-depth race of the latter, relayed by Ibrahim Sangaré and Gus Til, the center forward and captain Luuk de Jong perfectly offbeat Joey Veerman.

The attacker perfectly wrapped his strike without leaving Alexander Nüber any chance. First shot on framed and first goal for the Besalanders who, until then, had quietly mastered the timid Monegasque attempts.

Admittedly, there was this strike from Youssouf Fofana Deviated, in his surface, by the opposing defender Jordan Teze (32 e ). But after consulting the video images, the Italian referee, Mr. Massa, did not grant a penalty. Despite his mobility, Aleksandr Golovin regularly lacked promptness. And his teammates from the offensive squad were below the level required to access the Champions League.

After the break, the Monegasques finally pushed consistent. In turn, Minamino (49 e ), Volland (58 e ) and Ben Yedder (60 e ) had possibilities, without being Quite precise. And when the center of Vanderson took the opposing defense to reverse, no one was at the reception.

It was then that Clement decided to stimulate a new dynamic. Gelson Martins, Krepin Diatta and especially Embolo weighed even more on the Dutch rear guard. At the end of the meeting, goalkeeper Walter Benitez, who had never won in the Principality with Nice, logically bowed to Disasi (80 e ).