Akliouche is enjoying in Monaco and doesn’t want to leave

Monaco opened their Ligue 1 campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Le Havre on Saturday at the Stade Louis-II, briefly climbing to the top of the table. Last year’s third-placed side had little trouble asserting control, though a defensive lapse did allow their opponents a fleeting moment of hope.

Le Havre coach Didier Digard had framed the match as a chance to “measure ourselves against the top of the table,” but the step proved too steep. His team resisted for half an hour before Gautier Lloris, under pressure from a Golovin cross, inadvertently deflected the ball past his own goalkeeper to make it 1-0. Maghnes Akliouche came close to doubling the advantage on the stroke of halftime, rattling the post with a volley.

The breakthrough came shortly after the restart. New signing Eric Dier, one of two debutants in Adi Hutter’s starting XI alongside Lukas Hradecky, rose highest from a Lamine Camara corner to power in a header for 2-0. The English defender, brought in from Bayern Munich this summer to add leadership and big-game experience, looked assured throughout — his goal a fitting bonus.

Yet Monaco’s grip briefly loosened when substitute Vanderson gifted possession to Rassoul Ndiaye, who calmly finished to pull one back in the 67th minute. Any suspense was quickly extinguished seven minutes later as Denis Zakaria burst down the flank and squared for Akliouche to restore the two-goal cushion at 3-1.

With Pogba and Ansu Fati watching from the stands, Monaco had little else to worry about. Apart from Vanderson’s blunder, their defense held firm, and Dier’s commanding display at the back suggested he may soon become indispensable. For Le Havre, however, the night offered only a brief spark of resistance before reality set in against a side determined to chase PSG this season.

After AS Monaco’s 3-1 win over Le Havre, Maghnes Akliouche decided to clarify his future in front of the Ligue 1+ microphone. The Monegasque midfielder, courted by European clubs since the start of the transfer window, was categorical: “I am here, in Monaco.”

With this statement, Akliouche confirmed his desire to remain loyal to the Principality and continue developing at his boyhood club, competing in Ligue 1.

LIGUE 1 - MATCHDAY 1

Friday

Rennes - Olympique Marseille 1-0 (0-0)

/Blas 90+1/

Saturday

Lens - Olympique Lyon 0-1 (0-1)

/Mikautadze 45+1/

Monaco - Le Havre 3-1 (1-0)

/Lloris 32 og, Dier 61, Akliouche 74 - Ndiaye 67/

Nice - Toulouse 0-1 (0-0)

/Sidibe 89/

Sunday

16.00: (3.40) Brest (3.50) Lille (2.25)

18.15: (2.70) Angers (3.20) Paris (2.90)

18.15: (2.40) Auxerre (3.45) Lorient (3.15)

18.15: (3.20) Metz (3.45) Strasbourg (2.35)

21.45: (8.00) Nantes (5.30) PSG (1.35)

***odds are subject to change***