Monaco ended Friday night above the rest of Ligue 1 after a 2-1 home win over Lens, turning a difficult contest at the Stade Louis II into a fifth-matchday statement. Filipe Luis’s side have taken 13 points from a possible 15, with Paris Brunner again providing the decisive attacking spark.
Monaco find a late answer against Lens
- Brunner put Monaco ahead in the 32nd minute, collecting his fourth league goal and his sixth in all competitions this season. The 20-year-old German forward has become central to Monaco’s fast start while Ansu Fati remains unavailable.
- Lens drew level 12 minutes after the interval. Matthieu Udol met a corner in the 57th minute to give the visitors a route back into the match.
- With the score at 1-1, Lens created opportunities to take control, but Monaco continued to press for a winner in the closing stages.
- The breakthrough arrived in the 84th minute when Jonathan Gradit diverted the ball into his own net, giving Monaco the 2-1 result.
The victory leaves Monaco alone at the summit overnight. Lille can return to first place on goal difference if they beat Nice away on Sunday.
Brunner’s rise and Balogun’s return
Brunner’s scoring run has helped cover Monaco’s absences in the forward line. Ansu Fati could make his first appearance of the campaign after the upcoming international break, while Florian Balogun’s proposed move to Everton collapsed on the final day of the transfer window.
Balogun came on for the final 15 minutes against Lens, his first action since his disputed involvement in July’s World Cup round-of-16 match against Switzerland. The United States forward had been sent off in the preceding game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but his ban was suspended after Donald Trump intervened with FIFA.
Lens begin again under Cahuzac
For Lens, the evening marked Yannick Cahuzac’s first match as interim coach following Dino Toppmöller’s dismissal. Last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up were competitive after Udol’s equaliser but could not halt another damaging result.
Lens have managed only four points from their opening five league fixtures, made up of one win and one draw, leaving a club that finished second last season searching for stability early in the French campaign.
