A corner at 14', a centre-back at the end of it, and Monaco win the opener 1-0
Eric Dier headed in from a corner inside the first quarter of an hour and Monaco spent the rest of the afternoon keeping it. Lionel Mpasi made six saves for Le Havre and still finished on the losing side.
Set pieces decide more opening days than anyone plans for. Monaco won a corner after a quarter of an hour, Eric Dier attacked it, and that was the game.
1-0 at 14', and then seventy-five minutes of Le Havre trying and Monaco managing.
Mpasi kept it to one
Lionel Mpasi made six saves in the Le Havre goal. Monaco put seven shots on target — 47% of what they attempted — and were only stopped from turning a narrow win into a comfortable one by their opponent's goalkeeper.
At the other end, Le Havre managed four on target and 0.60 expected goals against Monaco's 1.39. Stanis Idumbo had four shots of his own and gave the home defence its worst afternoon. Le Havre pushed late; Lukas Hradecky made three saves and Monaco did not concede.
Match facts
- 14' — Eric Dier (Monaco), from a corner
- Lionel Mpasi: six saves for Le Havre
- Lukas Hradecky: three saves for Monaco
| Stat | Le Havre | Monaco |
|---|---|---|
| Shots on target | 4 | 7 |
| Expected goals (xG) | 0.60 | 1.39 |
| Saves | 6 | 3 |
What's next
Monaco open with three points and a clean sheet, which is exactly the start a side with European ambitions wants. Le Havre open with none, and already know how tight the margins are going to be.
Picks for you
Advertising. Affiliate links — we may earn a commission on your purchases, at no extra cost to you. It does not influence our editorial coverage.
Keep reading
International FootballFour goals in 31 minutes, a red card on 40, and Aston Villa still had 45 more to play
Villa turned up at the Amex without a recognised centre forward and left with none of it working: an own goal, two Hinshelwood headers 80 seconds apart, Joao Gomes sent off and not one shot on target.
International FootballBournemouth held for 80 minutes. Then Enzo Maresca sent on Rayan Cherki
Marcus Tavernier put Bournemouth ahead, Erling Haaland kept missing, and City looked like dropping points at home. Cherki's introduction produced both goals in the last six minutes.
International FootballNewcastle led twice and were 99 minutes from beating Liverpool. Then Lewis Hall went to ground
Elanga inside five minutes, Willock two minutes after Gakpo's equaliser, and St James' Park was ready to celebrate a new manager's debut. Szoboszlai's stoppage-time penalty took it away.