Monaco and Strasbourg Battle to a Scoreless Draw in Ligue 1

MONACO, Monaco – AS Monaco and RC Strasbourg faced off in a tightly contested Ligue 1 match on Saturday that ended in a 0-0 draw, leaving Monaco in provisional second place on the league table.

During the 30th matchday of the season at Stade Louis-II, both teams had chances to score, but ultimately neither could find the back of the net. Despite the disappointing result, Monaco showed a strong performance, particularly following their impressive 3-0 victory over their previous opponent.

“The Rouge et Blanc approached this match confident in their capabilities,” said Monaco manager Adi Hütter. “Despite the draw, we dominated much of the game against a formidable Strasbourg side.”

Strasbourg, currently one of the most in-form teams in Ligue 1, entered the match with a total of 27 points in the second half of the season, making it a critical challenge for Monaco. Hütter noted the effectiveness of Strasbourg’s midfield, particularly highlighting players like Félix Lemarechal and the speedy Emanuel Emegha.

The match kicked off with a vibrant atmosphere, enhanced by the “Tous au Stade” campaign, which brought 2,500 young local players to the stands. The intensity was palpable as both teams traded attacks early on, with stunning defensive plays emerging from Christian Mawissa, who thwarted Emegha’s efforts in the ninth minute.

Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche soon tested Strasbourg goalkeeper Petar Petrović with a quick shot in the 19th minute, forcing a strong save. However, opportunities dwindled as the midfield battle intensified, leading to a series of fouls and interruptions. The first half concluded with a controversial moment when Monaco’s Mika Biereth had a goal disallowed due to an offside call against teammate Caio Henrique just before halftime.

The second half continued in a similar vein, fraught with fierce duels and intermittent technical errors. Strasbourg, aiming to break the deadlock, had their first shot in the 66th minute, but it was thwarted by Monaco’s defense. The chances mounted for Monaco as Eliesse Ben Seghir missed two opportunities, with a header that went over the bar and a long-range attempt that went wide.

The tension escalated in the closing minutes. Monegasque captain Denis Zakaria came close to scoring with two attempts—one that sailed over the bar and another that failed to find its mark in stoppage time. In a nail-biting moment at the 85th minute, a goal by Emegha was also ruled out for being offside, much to the dismay of the Strasbourg fans.

As the final whistle blew, both teams remained scoreless, with the match ending at 0-0. Despite the draw, AS Monaco remains second in the league, keeping their hopes for Champions League qualification alive.

“We fought hard, and even though we didn’t get the three points, we showed resilience against a tough opponent,” Hütter added.