On February 28, 2025, AS Monaco faced off against Stade de Reims at the Stade Louis-II, marking the opening of Ligue 1's 24th matchday. Both teams were struggling, but Monaco, sitting fifth on the league table, was expected to capitalize on Reims’ poor run of form. The Red and Whites were seeking their first victory since November, having gone winless for 12 games, making them increasingly anxious to reverse their fortunes.
Monaco's recent form has been complicated, tumbling out of the Champions League and facing domestic challenges, having won only once in their last five matches. Under head coach Adi Hütter, AS Monaco had been thriving offensively, scoring at least two goals during the past six encounters at home.
The match began energetically, with Monaco displaying dominance early on. After just 30 seconds, Mika Biereth had already made his presence felt, receiving the ball inside the box, yet his header went off-target. With 61% of possession, Monaco was consistently pressing, recording eight shots within the first quarter of the match as they aimed to break through Reims’ defense.
Reims, on the other hand, deployed a disciplined five-man defense but found themselves under relentless pressure. The only significant threat from the visitors came through Junya Ito, who managed to create shooting opportunities but often found himself thwarted by Monaco’s goalkeeper, Kacper Majecki.
The breakthrough came for Monaco in the 43rd minute as Biereth expertly controlled the ball from Akliouche’s cross and scored with calm precision—his eighth goal of the season and another gem to add to his growing tally. Just moments later, Biereth doubled the lead, this time with help from Caio Henrique. Collectively, the home crowd at Louis-II began to find their voice, buoyed by Biereth's clinical touch.
Despite their early promise, Reims' performance lacked the fire needed to counter Monaco's aggression constantly. By halftime, they trailed 2-0 with little offensive production to show, putting additional pressure on the squad led by head coach Samba Diawara.
The second half offered no respite as Monaco continued their blistering form, where Biereth claimed his hat trick shortly after the restart. The Danish striker became the first player this century to score ten goals within his first seven appearances, surpassing legendary forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic's record of nine. The goal came following another Laguna-style break down the left, where Biereth capitalized on hesitation from the Reims defense.
Reims struggled with opportunities, yet they pressed on, creating minor chances, including efforts from Atangana and Nakamura; both ending up comfortably dealt with by Majecki. The young Reims front was unable to forge enough creativity to dent the scoreboard, highlighting their uphill battle.
Monaco had other attempts to extend their lead with several rapid attacks, with Breel Embolo and Minamino both testing the Reims goalkeeper, Predrag Diouf. On multiple occasions, it was clear Monaco's transition game was working perfectly, making Reims look vulnerable.
Substitutions were made on both sides: for Monaco, Lucas Michal came on for Biereth, who received warm applause as he left the field, his contributions having deeply impacted the game. Reims attempted to rotate players but struggled to make significant changes on the pitch.
Towards the end, Monaco maintained control and continued to threaten. The match concluded with the home side triumphing comfortably at 3-0, reflecting the gulf between the two teams. This victory marked hope for AS Monaco, regeneratively pushing them closer to their goal of Champions League qualification.
Post-match, Adi Hütter commented on the performance, emphasizing the team's attacking prowess but also the need to maintain defensive solidity, especially with more challenging matches on the horizon. "Winning by three goals against Reims is encouraging for us, but we know we must be consistent to achieve our objectives this season," he remarked.
Meanwhile, for Stade de Reims, the loss deepened their woes as they linger near the relegation zone. Recognizing the uphill battle, head coach Samba Diawara noted, "We have to find our way back to earning points; right now, every match feels like it's more important than the last. We must adjust and rally the team together."
This victory leaves AS Monaco with renewed vigor as they look forward to improving their standings, whilst Stade de Reims faces increasing pressure to turn their season around as they prepare for tough encounters moving forward.