Champions League. Monaco Wasted Valuable Points by Conceding a Draw to Pafos after Leading Twice

AS Monaco traveled to Limassol (Cyprus) to face the little thumb of Pafos FC, this Wednesday, November 26, for the 5th day of the Champions League. The Monegasques dropped valuable points by being equalized in the last minutes (2-2).

In Limassol (Cyprus) Monaco faced the club Pafos for the 5th day of the Champions League Wednesday 26th November. The Monegasques dropped valuable points when they saw Pafos equalize in the final minutes (2-2). After its victory against Bodo/Glimt (1-0) on the 4th day, Monaco did not confirm. Sébastian Pocognoli’s men leave with just one point and find themselves in difficulty in the standings before hosting Galatasaray.

A first half at the level

Monaco entered its match very quickly, with Akliouche sharp from his first balls. This came to fruition on the scoreboard. Minamino opened the scoring in the 5th minute, on an assist from Akliouche, then the Monegasques regained the score thanks to Balogun. The American took advantage of the error at the foot of the Cypriot goalkeeper to recover the ball and adjust his shot while the goalkeeper was late (26th). In the first half, the Monaco players showed great things, with effective connections between the playmakers: Akliouche, Balogun and Minamino in particular. However the Monegasques fell asleep in the second half, they didn’t try much and were caught. On the bench, Paul Pogba did not return during the match.

Struggling on set pieces

A great force from Pafos, the ASM trembled on almost all the Cypriots’ set pieces. It was first from a corner that David Luiz opened the scoring with a header on Orsic’s shot from a corner point (18th). The Brazilian becomes, at 38 years and 218 days, the second oldest player to score in the Champions League.

Dominated in the first half, the locals pushed in the second half to force the Monegasques to make mistakes. It was again in a chaotic situation after a corner that Pafos equalized. Sunjic’s header hits the crossbar and returns to Salisu who concedes an own goal (88th).

Monaco therefore leaves Cyprus with only one small point and may harbor regrets.

The match sheet
Pafos FC (4-3-3): Michael – Bruno, Luckassen, David Luiz, Langa – Sunjic, Goldar, Pêpê – Orsic, Dragomir, Quina

Substitutes : Petrou, Papadoudis, Pileas, Bassouamina, Dimata, Jaja, Langa

AS Monaco (4-2-3-1): Hradecky – Vanderson, Teze, Salisu, Henrique – Camara, Zakaria – Akliouche, Minamino, Golovin – Balogun

Substitutes : Kohn, Kehrer, Ouattara, Coulibaly, Idumbo, Pogba, Biereth, Michal, Fati, Ilenikhena, Bamba, Cabral