Leipzig crush Monaco
Leipzig sent Monaco crashing out of the Champions League with a 4-1 victory, capitalising on a comedy of errors in a first-half horror show from last season’s semi-finalists yesterday. The visiting German side led 2-0 after just nine minutes, with Monaco’s Jemerson at fault in both goals. The Brazilian defender beat his own ‘keeper with an own goal and set up Leipzig’s second with a feeble pass from the back that Kevin Kampl pounced on to set up Timo Werner to score.
Monaco were a mere shadow of the force that knocked out Manchester City and Borussia Dortmund on their surprise run to the final four last season. Their miserable campaign this season, shipping nine goals in three group-stage losses at home, laid bare the cost of allowing Kylian Mbappe to move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and the loss of Bernardo Silva, who won with Manchester City against Feyenoord yesterday.
But Monaco’s short-termism didn’t completely excuse the players’ gaffes and feeble effort against Leipzig. Downcast Monaco defender Andrea Raggi apologised to fans but said highs and lows are all part of football.
The heavy defeat left Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim the uphill task of having to regroup and rally his team for the visit on Sunday of Ligue 1 leader Paris Saint-Germain. Defending champions Monaco already trail PSG by six points ahead of that top-two clash.