AS Monaco Falls to Nice in Côte d’Azur Derby, Marking First Loss of Season
Despite a strong start and early dominance, AS Monaco fell 2-1 to Nice in the 107th Côte d’Azur Derby on Friday. The Red and Whites, down to ten men after a controversial red card for Vanderson just before halftime, put up a valiant fight but couldn’t avoid defeat. The match, attended by club president Dmitry Rybolovlev, marked Monaco’s first loss this season.
The Monegasques entered the game confidently, fresh off a commanding 5-1 win over Red Star Belgrade. With an aggressive lineup, Adi Hütter’s men controlled the pace, creating multiple early chances. Breel Embolo appeared to put Monaco on the board, but his goal was ruled offside due to a narrow call against Takumi Minamino. Undeterred, Embolo found the net in the 39th minute, giving Monaco a 1-0 lead.
However, momentum shifted in first-half stoppage time when Evan Guessand equalized for Nice from a set-piece. Moments later, Vanderson’s second yellow card left Monaco a man down for the rest of the match.
With a numerical advantage, Nice intensified their attack, and despite several crucial saves by Monaco’s Radoslaw Majecki, Gaëtan Laborde capitalized on a misjudged back pass from Krépin Diatta, scoring the winning goal in the 71st minute. Monaco pressed for an equalizer, but Nice’s resilient defense secured the victory, ending Monaco’s unbeaten streak.
