Both of these sides are currently in the thick of what could be a tantalising battle for European qualification, and the start to proceedings here resembled a basketball match.
There were chances for both sides before Odsonne Edouard broke the deadlock at the end of a rather scrappy passage of play. Philipp Kohn intercepted Adrien Thomasson after being picked out by Florian Thauvin’s cross, before the former Crystal Palace forward rifled home the loose ball from close range.
Referee Bastien Dechepy presented Monaco with a chance to restore parity, penalising Mamadou Sangaré for bringing down Folarin Balogun in the box.
The USA international stepped up to confidently dispatch the subsequent penalty, but Sebastien Pocognoli’s side were only level for five minutes. Édouard slipped in Wesley Said down the left, and the latter unleashed a ferocious strike past Kohn at his near post to re-establish the visitors’ lead.
There was still time for further twists at the end of a gripping first half, with Balogun harshly sent off for a challenge on Sangaré, much to the disgust of the Monaco bench. Sangare then rubbed salt into the hosts’ gaping wounds by adding a third for Lens with a coolly taken finish to expose Les Monégasques’ obvious defensive frailties.
With the one-man disadvantage, Pocognoli’s side continued to look vulnerable after the break. It was a case of damage limitation when Said netted his second of the match with a superb glancing header from Thauvin’s corner, in what was turning into a chastening night for the hosts. Monaco’s response was admirable, though, and Maghnes Akliouche forced Robin Risser into a low save down to his right before Lucas Michal shot wide on the follow-up.
The visitors were in no mood to rest on their laurels in the closing stages, and Rayan Fofana should have added a fifth when he slid the ball over the bar from Matthieu Udol’s cross.
Monaco were given a chance to have the last word after Andrija Bulatovic handled inside the box, but Risser denied Ansu Fati from 12 yards to cap off a miserable evening for the principality outfit.
This result lifts Pierre Sage’s side up to second in the table, while Monaco succumbed to consecutive league defeats for the first time this season and dropped down a place into sixth.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Florian Thauvin (Lens)
