A Volland found, a Germain surpassed

TOPS

Kevin Volland found
The German ASM striker is having a delicate start to the season in the ASM jersey and is struggling to regain his level of last season when he scored 16 goals in Ligue 1. Tonight, the former Bayer Leverkusen has probably regained some of the confidence that was lacking in this start of the season. First a scorer, receiving a very good cross from Caio Henrique, he was then a passer for Ben Yedder. His center from the outside of the foot is perfect for the header of the French international striker. After another disappointing performance in the Europa League against PSV Eindhoven, Kevin Volland certainly delivered his benchmark match tonight.

Caio Henrique, almighty side
The Brazilian defender is definitely in great shape at the start of the season. Already very good this week in the Europa League against PSV Eindhoven, Caio Henrique again delivered a very good performance this Sunday. Involved in two of his team’s three goals, it was he who sent this superb center to Kevin Volland for the opener. Beforehand, he had sent an excellent long ball for Sofiane Diop before the latter shifted it to his left wing for the victorious center. In the second half, it was he who tried his luck in the box before the ball was blocked and returned to the feet of Gelson Martins who scored the 3^e drank while throwing himself. A big offensive presence that did not distance him from his defensive obligations. His opposite, Florent Mollet, was not very dangerous and perfectly muzzled by the Brazilian. Five-star service for the former Fluminense.

Gelson Martins, turnaround
Author of the third Monegasque goal, Gelson Martins also managed a high quality performance on the lawn of the Louis II stadium. Very impactful, he made the defense of Montpellier dizzy with his liveliness and his sense of dribbling. Technically clean (86% of successful passes), he constantly sought to play forward and destabilize the Hérault rearguard. He is also the Monegasque who suffered the most faults this Sunday (4). Proof of the Montpellier difficulties to contain the twirling Gelson Martins, connected to alternating current since the start of the season, but very strong tonight.

FLOPS

Valère Germain, ghostly
Rather good since his arrival in Montpellier (3 goals in 6 games played) the former Olympique de Marseille striker went through this match like a ghost. His partners experienced the worst difficulties in finding him in good conditions. Against his former club, Valère Germain did not shoot once on goal and only touched 19 balls in 65 minutes spent on the lawn. Very well defended by Maripan and Pavlovic, he never weighed on this meeting and was logically replaced shortly after the hour mark. A match to forget for the former Nice.

Cozza / Sambia: outdated side
Whether on the left or on the right, the Montpellier side took the broth against the Monegasque wingers this Sunday. On the left, Nicolas Cozza is directly involved in the second goal conceded by his team since it is he who loses the ball in front of Kevin Volland who did not hesitate to distill an offering to Ben Yedder. In great difficulty technically, he only succeeded… 46.2% of his passes. Often at fault, he is warned at the 43^e minute and replaced at half-time by Wahi. His counterpart on the left, Junior Sambia was no more successful. It was he who completely let go of the mark on Sofiane Diop and who therefore allowed the international hope to make the penultimate pass before the opening of the Monaco score. A little more technically at ease, he still suffered considerably in the face of the liveliness of the Monegasque attackers.