By SCM Football Correspondent, Sunday 09,2025
MONACO – RC Lens delivered a stunning and ruthless demolition job on AS Monaco on Saturday night, storming the Principality’s opulent Stade Louis-II to secure a sensational 4-1 victory.
The result sends shockwaves through the top end of the Ligue 1 table, with the sheer scale of the defeat, especially at home, raising serious questions about the Monégasques’ European ambitions.
The Stade Louis-II is an iconic venue, known more for its unique setting nestled between the Rock of Monaco and the Mediterranean than for hosting footballing routs.
With a relatively modest capacity of just over 18,500, the stadium is one of the most compact and exclusive top-flight grounds in Europe—a fitting home for a club based in one of the world’s wealthiest territories.
However, the glitz and glamour of the venue did little to protect the home side from a rampant Lens attack.
The match turned into a nightmare for Monaco just before the interval.
After Folarin Balogun had cancelled out an Odsonne Edouard opener from the penalty spot, Lens exploded. Wesley Saïd and Sangaré scored in quick succession, the latter coming deep into first-half stoppage time, to make it 3-1 at the break.
But the real killer blow arrived just before the half-time whistle when Monaco’s goalscorer, Balogun, was shown a straight red card.
Reduced to ten men, Monaco were left with a mountain to climb in front of the assembled high-rollers and their President, Dmitry Rybolovlev.
The second half was a formality, with the extra Lens man dominating the small, enclosed pitch. A final strike sealed the 4-1 humiliation, a result the Monaco faithful won’t forget quickly.
The typically pristine pitch and impressive architecture of the Stade Louis-II could not offer any refuge as Lens ran riot, proving that even a setting fit for a Prince can witness a pauper’s performance.
The defeat sees Lens leapfrog their rivals in the table, tightening their grip on a coveted Champions League spot, while Monaco are left to lick their wounds during the upcoming international break, pondering how they can repair the damage inflicted on their prestigious home turf.
