Jardim takes it on the chin after Monaco concede draw
Montpellier net in injury time after Falcao strike, while Girona and Celta Vigo feature in 3-3 draw
French champions Monaco missed the chance to go top of Ligue 1 as Souleymane Camara struck an injurytime equaliser to snatch Montpellier a 1-1 draw at the Stade Louis II on Friday.
After a slow start, Monaco struck first in the 38th minute as the red-hot Radamel Falcao slid in to score, but Montpellier kept their hosts at arm’s length and Camara stunned the home crowd.
Leonardo Jardim’s men trail league leaders Paris Saint-Germain on goal difference.
“Five minutes from the end when you’re leading 1-0, you need to stay focused,” the Portuguese coach said.
“Of course, I’m not happy. The goal of winning was not achieved. The person responsible for these things is me.”
Monaco went into the game after a surprising 3-0 Champions League loss at home to Porto in midweek.
Jardim responded by making five changes to his starting XI, welcoming back goalkeeper Danijel Subasic from injury, as well as reinstating close-season signing Stevan Jovetic alongside Falcao up front.
Falcao swells tally
Montpellier, who held PSG to a 0-0 draw last weekend, began the match on the front foot and they could have taken the lead when Pedro Mendes found himself with space inside the area, but the centre-back curled too close to Subasic.
Monaco were not much-improved from the Porto defeat, but broke through before half-time as winger Rony Lopes got behind the rival defence and crossed low for Falcao, who bundled the ball over the line from point-blank range. The Colombian has now scored 12 goals in just eight Ligue 1 games this season.
Monaco were far from their fluent best, and Montpellier were the stronger side for much of the second period, with fullback Ruben Aguilar volleying narrowly wide.
But Montpellier grabbed a deserved point in the second minute of injury-time as 34-year-old Senegalese forward Camara pounced to head home Kevin Berigaud’s cross.
In La Liga, four goals in a nineminute span in the first half led Monaco 1, Montpellier 1
La Liga
Celta Vigo 3 Girona 3
Bundesliga
Schalke 04 1 Bayer Leverkusen 1 to newly promoted Girona and Celta Vigo drawing 3-3 on Friday. Defender Juan Ramirez scored a late goal to grab a point for Girona at Balaidos Stadium.
Pione Sisto opened for Celta in the eighth minute, Girona quickly went ahead on goals by Cristian Portugues and Christian Stuani, before Maxi Gomez made it 2-2 for the hosts in the 16th.
Daniel Wass appeared to have snatched victory for Celta after a free kick in the 76th.
But Girona pressed forward and Ramirez controlled a cross that Celta failed to clear before firing home to split the points in the 86th.