Monaco Edges Closer to Ligue 1 Summit with 5-3 Victory

Nantes vs Monaco, Golovin's double powers visitors to win

Aleksandr Golovin scored a brace as Monaco secured a thrilling 5-3 win over Nantes, moving within a point of the Ligue 1 summit.

Monaco's lead was briefly threatened when Herba Guirassy scored his first league goal...

Sebastien Pocognoli's unbeaten streak as AS Monaco boss extended to four matches after a thrilling 5-3 away victory over Nantes. This win landed Monaco in second spot, just a point shy of the summit.

The match saw a blistering first half of action at the Stade de la Beaujoire. Nantes' Dehmaine Tabibou fired the game's first shot against the crossbar, only to be dispossessed moments later, leading to Monaco's opener.

Maghnes Akliouche outmuscled the Nantes midfielder and drove towards the byline, clipping a precise ball towards the back post. Mamadou Coulibaly cushioned the cross and drove the ball past a helpless Anthony Lopes to give his team the lead.

Nantes were fortunate not to fall further behind after Junior Mwanga's cross ricocheted off the crossbar, and Folarin Balogun blazed a one-on-one chance over the bar, leaving Nantes reeling in the early stages.

Monaco's lead was briefly threatened when Herba Guirassy scored his first league goal, capitalizing on a chance created by Matthis Abline's skillful run down the right flank. Guirassy guided a right-foot shot past Philipp Köhn to level the score.

The visitors regained their advantage when Folarin Balogun scored, although Takumi Minamino had a goal disallowed for offside moments earlier. Balogun's goal put Monaco back in the lead, restoring their advantage after being pegged back by Guirassy's equalizer.

The former Arsenal striker perfectly timed his run to latch onto Coulibaly's through ball, sliding a composed shot under Lopes. However, just as Monaco thought they had secured the half-time lead, Guirassy capitalized on a glaring goalkeeping error, netting his second goal with the aid of a deflection.

Köhn's costly mistake was soon forgotten when Monaco took the lead for the third time, just 10 minutes into the second half. Maghnes Akliouche scored his first goal since August, sweeping the ball home from Kassoum Ouattara's low cross.

𝗩𝗜𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬! 🔝

🔥 Outstanding away win for our guys!

3️⃣-5️⃣ #FCNASM pic.twitter.com/cpFbbBk6El

— AS Monaco EN 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco_EN) October 29, 2025

Ouattara continued to make an impact, providing another assist for Aleksandr Golovin, who side-footed a controlled shot into the net to further extend Monaco's advantage.

Mostafa Mohamed reduced the deficit with a powerful finish, but Aleksandr Golovin sealed the win for Monaco in stoppage time, scoring a rebound after his initial shot was saved. This effectively ended Nantes' chances of securing a positive result.

The loss leaves Luis Castro's side in 15th place, narrowly above the bottom three on goal difference. Despite putting up a strong fight, Nantes fell short in a thrilling match that showcased the competitive spirit of both teams.