On France’s Atlantic coast, Monaco’s unbeaten league start ended in Lorient, where Ansu Fati’s encouraging week continued with another start but not another decisive moment. The former Barcelona forward had scored in Europe on Thursday; three days later, the Principality side left the Stade du Moustoir empty-handed after a 1-0 defeat.
Key takeaways
- Ansu Fati started for Monaco against Lorient after scoring in the Conference League in midweek.
- Noah Chadiou converted a 61st-minute penalty to give Lorient the win.
- Monaco suffered their first Ligue 1 defeat of the season and surrendered first place.
- Paris Saint-Germain now lead the table, level on points with Paris FC, Lille and Monaco.
- Fati played a little more than an hour as he continued to build match fitness.
A difficult afternoon at the Stade du Moustoir
Filipe Luis kept faith with Fati from the opening whistle against Lorient, following the Spaniard’s influential performance against CSKA Sofia in the Conference League. That European appearance had brought his first goal of the campaign, securing three points away from home for Monaco.
There was no similar breakthrough in Brittany. Monaco’s attacking players, including Fati, were unable to find the precision required, and the match turned shortly after the hour mark. Chadiou stepped up from the spot in the 61st minute and sent Lorient ahead, a lead the home side protected to the final whistle.
The result brings Monaco’s perfect domestic record to an end and alters the shape of the early Ligue 1 table. Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain move into first place, although Paris FC, Lille and Monaco are all alongside them on the same points total.
Fati’s route back into the side
Despite the defeat, the past week has represented a meaningful step forward for Fati. He made his first appearance of the season against Toulouse last weekend, then marked his first start against CSKA Sofia with a Conference League goal.
His inclusion from the beginning in Lorient confirmed the growing confidence around his return. Fati was withdrawn after just over 60 minutes and could not reproduce his midweek impact, but successive minutes, a European goal and a league start have made it a personally significant spell for the forward.
