Monaco needed a late slice of fortune to hold off Lens at Stade Louis II on Friday, with Jonathan Gradit’s 84th-minute own goal the difference in a 2-1 win that sends them to the top of Ligue 1, according to Reuters. Paris Josua Brunner had given the hosts a first-half lead, but Matthieu Udol’s equalizer on 57 minutes made for a tense final half-hour before Gradit turned the ball into his own net to hand Monaco all three points. Lens, who had a penalty overturned by VAR in the 20th minute, were left to rue a series of missed opportunities despite outshooting Monaco 12 to 9 on the night.
Key Moments
- 20′, VAR cancels a Lens penalty, with Michaël Cuisance involved in the incident. A potential momentum swing for the visitors is denied.
- 32′, Monaco break the deadlock. Paris Josua Brunner finishes off an assist from Abline to put the home side ahead.
- 57′, Lens level through Udol. The defender converts after a pass from Thauvin, who had picked up a yellow card just minutes earlier.
- 62′, Monaco make their first change, bringing on Detourbet for Diop in a bid to regain control in midfield.
- 84′, The decisive moment: Jonathan Gradit, who had come on at halftime as a substitute, deflects the ball into his own net to restore Monaco’s lead and effectively seal the game.
Tactical Breakdown
Monaco set up in a 4-4-2 and controlled proceedings without ever being particularly dominant. They edged possession at 52 percent and put 6 of their 9 shots on target, converting twice. The first-half structure was compact, with Abline and Paris Josua Brunner working well in combination up front, the latter benefiting from his partner’s assist just before the hour mark of the opening period. Hrádecký was kept reasonably busy, making 3 saves, but Monaco’s defensive shape largely limited Lens to low-quality looks.
The match changed shape in the second half after Lens made two substitutions at the break, replacing Jean-Clair Todibo with Jonathan Gradit at the back. Lens pushed higher and generated more volume in the final third, finishing with 12 total shots and 8 corner kicks compared to Monaco’s 2. Their pressure paid off when Thauvin found Udol on 57 minutes, but Monaco responded quickly by introducing Detourbet and later bringing on Balogun and Pape Cabral in the 76th minute to shore up the midfield and add legs in attack.
Lens generated the better chances in the second half on paper, with 10 of their 12 shots coming from inside the box, but poor finishing and a well-organized Monaco backline kept them at bay. The own goal that settled the match was cruel but also reflective of Lens’s night: enough possession and enough touches in dangerous areas, but no clean finish when it mattered. Their xG-friendly shot volume could not compensate for the lack of clinical quality.
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Verdict
The result moves Monaco to 13 points at the top of Ligue 1, three clear of Lille and Rennes who have both played a game fewer, according to Reuters. For Lens, now sitting 10th with 4 points from five games, the VAR reversal and Gradit’s own goal will sting particularly hard: they were the more dangerous side for long stretches of the second half and had little to show for it. Monaco, unbeaten in the league this season, have the early momentum to back up their ambitions at the summit.