The Stade Louis II was buzzing on February 28, 2026, as AS Monaco hosted Angers SCO in a Ligue 1 clash that saw the home side continue their impressive run of form with a 2-0 victory. Coming off the back of a bittersweet Champions League exit against Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco were determined to get back to winning ways and keep their European qualification hopes alive. The stakes were high for both sides: Monaco were eyeing the top six, while Angers were desperate to halt a worrying slide down the table.
Monaco entered the fixture sitting eighth in the Ligue 1 standings with 34 points from 23 matches, just three points shy of sixth-placed Stade Rennais and a coveted UEFA Conference League qualifying spot. Their recent form had been encouraging, with Sebastien Pocognoli’s men unbeaten in their last five league games—three wins and two draws—a remarkable turnaround after losing four on the bounce earlier in the season. Angers, meanwhile, were 12th with 29 points, still within touching distance of the top half but coming off back-to-back defeats to Lille and Lorient. Away from home, Angers had struggled, managing just two wins in 11 outings, alongside six losses and three draws.
Team news ahead of kickoff was dominated by Monaco’s lengthy absentee list. Maghnes Akliouche, the talented France international, was a major doubt after sustaining a hip injury against Nantes a fortnight earlier. Though he featured in the Champions League tie against PSG, Akliouche missed the previous weekend’s win over RC Lens and was not fully recovered in time for this match, as confirmed by coach Sebastien Pocognoli. “Akliouche has not fully recovered just yet,” Pocognoli stated before the game, leaving fans guessing about his involvement. Monaco were also without Lukas Hradecky, Mohammed Salisu, Eric Dier, Kassoum Ouattara, Krépin Diatta, Takumi Minamino, and Paul Pogba, all sidelined through injury, while Mamadou Coulibaly served a suspension.
The predicted Monaco lineup, according to L’Équipe, featured Philipp Köhn in goal; a back four of Caio Henrique, Wout Faes, Thilo Kehrer, and Jordan Teze; Denis Zakaria and Lamine Camara anchoring midfield; with Simon Adingra, Aleksandr Golovin, and possibly Akliouche supporting Mika Biereth up front. As it turned out, Folarin Balogun started and made a decisive impact on the pitch.
From the opening whistle, Monaco looked the more assertive side, pushing forward with intent and testing the Angers defense. The first half, however, was a tightly contested affair. Both teams carved out opportunities, but neither could break the deadlock before the interval. Monaco’s Folarin Balogun and Ansu Fati were lively in attack, while Angers’ Oumar Pona made a string of important saves to keep the scores level. The fourth official signaled three minutes of added time at the end of the first half, but the deadlock remained unbroken as the teams headed into the dressing rooms at 0-0.
The second half saw Monaco up the tempo, and it didn’t take long for the breakthrough to arrive. In the 52nd minute, Folarin Balogun pounced from close range to put the hosts in front, slotting home with his right foot to the bottom left corner after a well-worked move. The goal was a just reward for Monaco’s pressure and Balogun’s persistence, marking his sixth goal of the season in 21 appearances—a testament to his growing influence in the squad.
Angers responded with a flurry of attacks, but Monaco’s defense, marshaled by Thilo Kehrer and Wout Faes, stood firm. Philipp Köhn was called into action to deny efforts from Yassin Belkhdim and Prosper Peter, both of whom have emerged as bright spots for Angers this season. Belkhdim, who has two goals and two assists in 23 games, was booked for a rough challenge but escaped further punishment after a VAR review. Prosper Peter, Angers’ top scorer with three goals, came closest to equalizing with a powerful header, but Köhn’s reflexes kept Monaco’s lead intact.
As the match wore on, both managers turned to their benches to inject fresh legs. Monaco made a series of substitutions: Simon Adingra replaced Caio Henrique, Paris Brunner came on for Ansu Fati, Mika Biereth entered for Folarin Balogun, and Samuel Nibombé was introduced for Denis Zakaria. Angers, meanwhile, shuffled their lineup with Marius Louër, Jacques Ekomié, Marius Courcoul, Harouna Djibirin, and Pierrick Capelle all seeing action in the second half.
The decisive moment came late in the game. With Angers pushing forward in search of an equalizer, Monaco struck again. Simon Adingra, who had only recently entered the fray, unleashed a stunning right-footed shot from outside the box, finding the bottom right corner and doubling Monaco’s lead. Aleksandr Golovin, ever the creative spark, provided the assist, highlighting his value as both a playmaker and a leader on the pitch. The goal all but sealed the result, sending the home fans into raptures.
Angers fought valiantly until the end, but Monaco’s defense held firm through four minutes of added time announced by the fourth official. The visitors had a few half-chances, including a blocked effort from Ousmane Camara and a missed header from Carlens Arcus, but could not find a way past Köhn. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory for Monaco, a win that not only extended their unbeaten run in Ligue 1 to six matches but also kept them firmly in the hunt for European football next season.
For Angers, the defeat marked their third consecutive loss and extended their winless run away from home since the turn of the year. Alexandre Dujeux’s side remain 12th in the table, still three points behind ninth-placed Lorient but now looking anxiously over their shoulders as the relegation battle heats up. Angers’ away woes continue to be a major concern, with just two victories in 12 attempts on the road this season.
Monaco’s dominance in this fixture was once again apparent. With 16 wins from their last 25 meetings against Angers, the principality club has firmly established itself as the superior side in this head-to-head rivalry. The only blemish in recent years was a 1-0 home defeat in November 2024, but that memory was quickly erased with this commanding performance.
As the dust settles, Monaco can reflect on a job well done and set their sights on climbing further up the Ligue 1 table. With key players still to return from injury and a renewed sense of purpose following their Champions League heartbreak, Pocognoli’s men look poised for a strong finish to the campaign. Angers, meanwhile, will need to regroup quickly if they are to arrest their slide and move clear of the danger zone.
The Stade Louis II faithful left satisfied, their team delivering a clinical display when it mattered most. With European ambitions still very much alive, Monaco’s march up the table shows no sign of slowing down.