A festival of belters at Cote d'Azur - Monaco overtake Nice by downing Metz

Monaco have now won six straight head-to-head matches against Metz, triumphing 2-1 over their visitors via a stunning brace from Aleksandr Golovin, after Lamine Camera had opened the scoring with his own long-range effort.

There was a real buzz around the Stade Louis II stadium, with home fans aware that a win would see Monaco reclaim their place at the Ligue 1 summit. But their excitement was dampened within just five minutes as Camara unleashed his inner Beckham, striking a stunning opener from inside his own half for an early goal of the season contender. That headline-grabbing hit gave Metz something to hold onto, and they fought bravely amidst rising Monaco pressure.

With 25 minutes gone and the scoreline still in the visitors’ favour, Metz goalkeeper Alexandre Oukidja superbly stopped the onrushing Mohamed Camara, as the Monegasques smelled blood. It seemed as though Metz would go in at halftime with the advantage, but with the end of the first half approaching, Aleksandr Golovin took the game into his own hands, curling a stunning 25-yard effort into the top right corner. It was a perhaps undeserved equaliser after a disjointed attacking display, though it came at a perfect time for the below-par hosts.

In a game which would have already been remembered for goals of unbelievable quality, there was yet more individual brilliance in store, as Golovin grabbed his brace courtesy of a whipped free-kick. With the lead in hand, Monaco stepped up through the gears and finally started to win the midfield battle. In turn, they created several opportunities, with ex-Liverpool attacker Takumi Minamino only denied by a smart Oukidja stop after the Japan international had pirouetted into space.

From there, Metz had precious little to offer in response. Monaco duly had several chances to seal victory before the fulltime whistle, with Folarin Balogun centimetres away from his side’s third after Minamino drove a dangerous ball across the penalty area. While Monaco proudly sit atop Ligue 1 tonight, this was a disappointing day for László Bölöni’s side, who’ve now suffered four successive defeats, keeping them inside the bottom-three.

LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 9

Friday

Le Havre - Lens 0-0

Saturday

Paris Saint-Germain - Strasbourg 3-0 (2-0)

/Mbappe 10 pen, Soler 31, Ruiz 77/

Nice - Olympique Marseille 1-0 (1-0)

/Guessand 79/

Sunday

Lorient - Rennes 2-1 (2-1)

/Omari 4 og, Toure 45+1 - Blas 21/

Lille - Brest 1-0 (1-0)

/Yazici 6/

Nantes - Montpellier 2-0 (1-0)

/Mollet 44, Bamba 74/

Toulouse - Reims 1-1 (0-0)

/Dallinga 51 - Richardson 48/

Monaco - Metz 2-1 (0-1)

/Golovin 42, 55 - Camara 4/

21.45: (1.80) Olympique Lyon (3.70) Clermont (5.00)

***odds are subject to change***