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Both teams entered the contest desperate for a response following disappointing results.
Monaco, still reeling from a 4-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain and a narrow 1-0 loss to Benfica in the Champions League playoffs, needed a strong performance. Nantes, meanwhile, had suffered a 2-0 loss to Brest and sought redemption on the road.
It was Nantes who struck first, stunning the hosts inside five minutes.
Moses Simon, ever the creative spark, delivered a perfectly timed assist for Matthis Abline, who coolly slotted past the goalkeeper. That assist took Simon’s tally for the season to seven, making him the ultimate playmaker in Ligue 1.
However, the visitors’ early joy was short-lived. In the 18th minute, their fortunes took a disastrous turn when defender Nicolas Cozza received a straight red card for a reckless challenge, leaving Nantes with a numerical disadvantage. From that moment, Monaco seized control and never looked back.
The pressure mounted, and just before halftime, the floodgates opened. Mika Biereth drew Monaco level with a composed finish before Takumi Minamino fired in a second to give the hosts a 2-1 lead heading into the break.
The second half was a relentless assault on the depleted Nantes defence. Eliesse Ben Seghir made it 3-1 shortly after the restart before Biereth added his second and third, completing a stunning hat-trick. His clinical display took his goal tally to seven since joining Monaco in January.
Monaco’s dominance continued, but the best was yet to come for one of their youngest stars.
Nigerian-born forward George Ilenikhena, who replaced Minamino in the 61st minute, made an instant impact. With 81 minutes on the clock, he latched onto a through ball and fired past the goalkeeper for his first goal. The teenager wasn’t finished there—just before the final whistle, he added his second, rounding off a sensational cameo performance.
The emphatic victory lifted Monaco to 40 points from 22 matches, strengthening their push for Champions League qualification. They now sit three points ahead of fourth-placed Nice, who have a game in hand.
For Nantes, it was a sobering defeat that leaves them 15th in the Ligue 1 table, just four points above the relegation zone.
Monaco will now turn their focus to the second leg of their Champions League playoff, hoping to overturn their deficit and secure a place in the Round of 16. Nantes, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as they prepare to host Lens in what is now a must-win fixture.
