The dozen round of the French championship produced a gripping clash as Monaco hosted Brest at Stade Louis II. From the opening whistle, the pace was high and the tempo relentless, with the home side taking control early and setting a fast, forward-minded rhythm that kept the visitors reacting. Monaco pressed with purpose, using quick combinations and sharp runs to open space and force errors in Brest’s shape. The breakthrough came when Magnes Akliusz found the near post after a Coriolis-like sequence on the left, finishing off a precise pass from Elissa Ben-Segira. The goal injected energy into the home ranks and pushed Brest onto the back foot as they sought a foothold in the half, always aware that a single lapse could be punished by a fast counter from the hosts. The early pressure paid dividends as the team maintained its surging approach, and the crowd roared with every sprint down the flanks as the defense held firm against Brest’s attempts to respond. In the 5th minute, the home advantage began to crystallize, while the visitors adjusted their plan, looking to frustrate Monaco by constraining the space in front of their own box and forcing longer balls from the back. The rest of the first half showed a tactical duel, with Monaco maintaining a compact shape, Golovin dropping into pockets of space to orchestrate the buildup and Brest searching for balance between solidity at the back and opportunism up front.
In the 24th minute the Russians’ captain stepped forward. Alexander Golovin seized the moment and cut in from the left, finding space just outside the penalty area to unleash a composed strike that found the net for his first goal of the season. It was a moment that underscored Monaco’s attacking intent and their willingness to let the ball do the work in dangerous zones. The goal also demonstrated the visitors’ vulnerabilities in central zones, where quick combinations between Monaco’s midfielders and attackers threatened to unlock Brest’s defense. As the half wore on, Monaco continued to press and probe, crafting chances through intelligent movement, while Brest showed resilience, redirecting play and looking for quick counter opportunities through Abdalla Sima and Doumbia on the wings. The first 45 minutes closed with Monaco ahead and the sense that the night might still hold surprises as Brest regrouped at the break and prepared for a revised plan. In stoppage time of the half, Akliusz again surged forward and doubled his tally, a strike that reflected his relentless focus and opportunistic instincts in the box, leaving Brest to chase a tall order after the restart.
The second half brought renewed energy. Brest found their voice with a goal in the 50th minute, finished by Abdalla Sima following a cross from Camori Doumbia, lifting the visitors and injecting a sense of urgency into the contest. The goal shifted the momentum and forced Monaco to reassess their approach, as Brest pressed with a higher line and quick exchanges to unsettle the hosts. The match became a true midfield duel with Monaco’s playmakers looking to exploit gaps behind Brest’s advancing lines, while Brest persisted with high-intensity pressing and dangerous forays into the final third. Monaco, never short on ideas, continued to probe the backline with a mix of long diagonals and patient buildup, looking for the moment to exploit a lapse in concentration. With the clock ticking toward the end of the match, Brest pushed men forward in pursuit of parity, and late in stoppage time Ludovic Azhork delivered a strike that momentarily turned the nerves of the home crowd into a crescendo of anticipation, forcing a last-ditch save and setting the stage for a dramatic finish. In a night of drama, the visitors showed courage until the final whistle, leaving Monaco to guard their narrow advantage as the clock wound down toward 90 minutes and beyond.
In the closing moments Monaco clung to their lead and then added a decisive flourish as Akliusz completed a late counter, completing a brace that underscored his influence on the night. By the final whistle, Monaco had clinched a 3-2 victory, a result that kept them in second place with 26 points and three points behind league leaders Paris Saint-Germain, who had yet to complete their own 12th round and would later face Toulouse in Moscow time. Brest remained in 12th position with 13 points, a reminder of the thin margins that separate midtable security from the chase for European spots in a competitive league. Looking ahead, Monaco was scheduled to travel to Marseille for a challenging away fixture on December 1, with kickoff at 22:45 Moscow time, while Brest prepared to host Strasbourg on November 30 at 21:00 Moscow time, a fixture set to test their resolve as they seek to climb the table. A Russian referee who had previously officiated matches involving Ronaldo’s team was assigned to this game, adding to the global texture of a fixture that drew on officials with international experience to manage a high-stakes Ligue 1 night.