Ligue 1 (J32): Akliouche, Petrot, Minamino … The tops/flops of Saint-Etienne

Mathieu Warnier, media365: published on Saturday May 03, 2025 at 11:40 p.m.

Discover our tops and our flops at the end of the Monaco victory against Saint-Etienne (1-3) this Saturday on the lawn of the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium on the occasion of the 32nd day of Ligue 1.

Tops

Akliouche impeccable

Again, Maghnes Akliouche has set the tone. Scorer from the 1st minute then a decisive passer at the end of the match for Folarin Balogun, the Monegasque midfielder will have been an essential link in the precious success of the Principality club in Saint-Etienne. Enterprising in front of the goal of Gautier Larsonneur, the international French hopes knew how to be solid against the Stéphanois even if his game is conducive to risks that can end on ball losses. He gave way to Krépin Diatta for the end of the match to ensure the scoring.

Oil trapped then strong

Caught in reverse as the whole of the Stéphanoise defense on the opening of the Monegasque score, Léo Pétot was able to correct the shot at his post of right side. Faced with Folarin Balogun or Maghnes Akliouche, he did not look down. This allowed him to respond present in the duels to recover the ball and relaunch his team. In a complicated match for the Stéphanoise training, he was able to leave by focusing mainly on his defensive tasks.

Caio Henrique Appliqué

Decisive passer on the first goal of the meeting, Caio Henrique achieved a very high level performance this Saturday in the “cauldron”. Almost unbeatable in duels, the Brazilian left side never hesitated to exceed its function to provide attack solutions. Even if its precision on the centers left something to be desired. When it was necessary to intervene to stop the rare Stéphanois offensives, the Monegasque defender responded. A new full match to put to his credit this season.

Flops

Insufficient Cardona

If Zuriko Davitashvili came out of the rank by giving a little hope to the Green people, Irvin Cardona made a copy at best. The attacker returned to Forez this winter may try to switch the meeting, he sorely failed in precision. Indeed, he was unable to catch the frame in the face of a Philip Köhn not always inspired. To give his team a boost, Eirik Horneland did not hesitate for a long time to replace him with Ben Old 20 minutes from the end of the meeting.

Minamino a tone below

Alongside Akliouche Maghnes in the midfield, Takumi Minamino did not radiate. The Japanese international was in great difficulty in the UN-CONTRE-END and did not experience sufficient effectiveness in front of the Stéphanois goal to relieve his team earlier in this meeting. To this are added balloons lost in too many. An assessment far from satisfactory for the Monegasque midfielder, in a team that nevertheless responded.

Appiah in difficulty

Faced with a Henrique Caio who never hesitated to go up, Dennis Appiah has too quickly shown his limits. Not to the marking of the Brazilian on the action leading to the very early Monegasque goal, the Stéphanois defender suffered in the duels and missed almost everything he wanted to undertake during this meeting. A poor performance that will have extended to all of the regulation time, Yvann Mason coming to replace it only in the additional time of the second period.