The Scuderia Ferrari’s Monegasque driver finished third in an eventful race won by Max Verstappen (Red Bull) ahead of Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes).
Charles Leclerc started from pole position and finished the Mexican Grand Prix in third place on Sunday, after a complicated start that saw him hit Sergio Perez (Red Bull), who was forced to retire in front of his home crowd.
“Honestly, I had nowhere to go when we set off. I was stuck between the two Red Bulls and unfortunately I hit Checo (Sergio Perez). But I had nowhere to go,” he said. “My car was damaged, but we tried to make the most of our race after that. That’s life. I’m disappointed, and I’m sorry that Checo (Perez)’s race ended the way it did, but I didn’t hit him on purpose.”
Verstappen makes history again
After the restart, the driver from the Principality had more issues, particularly against Max Verstappen’s Red Bull and Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes. “We struggled a bit with the hard tyres after the second start. Lewis (Hamilton) was very fast on mediums and managed the wear on his tires very well. They were simply better today (Sunday).”
Third across the line, Charles Leclerc claimed his third podium of the season. As for Max Verstappen, he wrote another chapter of history with his 16th victory of the season, the 51st of his career. The next event is the Brazilian Grand Prix in São Paulo next Sunday.
AS Monaco were unable to extend their three-match winning streak away at Lille, as they suffered a disappointing 0-2 loss to halt their momentum.
The Match
Opting again to implement his 4-4-2 base structure for this fixture after the Metz victory, Adi Hutter was hoping this would prove to be the formula success once more.
@ASM
Beginning the match on the front foot, ASM raced out of the blocks by enjoying a strong first 20 minutes, which featured some notable efforts from Krepin Diatta and Wilfried Singo.
Lille then gradually got themselves into the game before taking the lead in the 32nd minute through Ivan Cavaleiro following a tidy delivery from Edon Zhegrova.
Paulo Fonseca’s men continued to push on, with them immediately coming close to doubling their advantage. Aleksandr Golovin then unleashed some promising sighters in his quest to level the ledger.
Frustrating, however, the home team struck next courtesy of Bafode Diakite to ensure they held a two-goal advantage at the interval at the lively Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Wanting to switch things up to turn the tide for the second stanza, Hutter introduced Maghnes Akliouche and Myron Boadu for Takumi Minamino and Folarin Balogun.
The signs were quickly positive for Les Monegasques, for they constructed some crafty passages that led to decent chances for Golovin, Wissam Ben Yedder and Akliouche.
Monaco then thought they’d halved the deficit when Chrislain Matsima powered home a header only for Boadu to be flagged for offside in the lead up.
Despite things not going in their favour, it was admirable how Monaco kept striving to get something from this clash, with Ismail Jakobs and Akliouche firing off teasing shots late on. But it just wasn’t to be for Hutter’s team against a Les Dogues outfit that have only tasted defeat once at home since August 2022, as ASM ultimately lost their second Ligue 1 game of the season, thus meaning they’ve now slipped to third in the standings.
Hutter’s Debrief
“I’m disappointed with the last 15 minutes before the break. I think we controlled the match in the first half by being more dangerous than Lille, even if it wasn’t spectacular. We did everything to equalise in the second half and I would like to congratulate LOSC,” explained the Austrian boss.
“If I had to pick out something negative, it would be the last 15 minutes of the first period. It’s not just the defence because we win and lose together. Edon Zhegrova gave us problems at that time. I think we lacked concentration. We are not happy about this and we are very disappointed with this result.
“It’s always important to work on our principles. It hasn’t been easy defensively since the start of the season because we had to make a lot of changes before the matches. As a coach, we like to have all our players at our disposal, it’s not easy. But once again, congratulations to Lille who played a very good match. We will work a lot this week to bounce back.”
Key Stats
By the numbers, the fact ASM held the ascendancy in terms of possession (59% to 41%), total shots (16 to 7) expected goals (0.61 to 0.54), shots inside the box (9 to 4), passes in the opposition half (183 to 105), total duels won (61 to 51) and successful dribbles (12 to 7) illustrated they were a touch unlucky to not get anything from the encounter.
Brest Up Next
After this setback, all eyes will now turn to Monaco’s intriguing clash with Brest, where they’ll be eager to recalibrate their focus and bounce back in fine style to return to winning ways within the home comforts of the Stade Louis II.
The billionaire heiress joined the Princely Family in 2013 and now has three children with her husband, Andrea Casiraghi.
Discreet by nature, Tatiana Casiraghi only appears in the media from time to time, as she attends major events in the life of the Monegasque Princely Family. That said, she remains a woman of conviction, whose family history still resonates today.
The granddaughter of Colombian businessman Julio Mario Santo Domingo, founder of the Santo Domingo group, she was the 847th richest person in the world in 2015, according to Forbes magazine, with an estimated fortune of US$2.2 billion. Another superlative, she is officially Monaco’s wealthiest woman since October 2019.
And with good reason: together with her younger brother Julio Mario Santo Domingo III, Tatiana inherited part of her grandfather’s shares in SABMiller, now part of Anheuser-Busch. But that’s not all. She also co-founded Muzungu Sisters, an online retailer of handcrafted products from countries all over the world.
The two children grew up surrounded by books, “with a Colombian businessman father who was heir to one of the country’s greatest fortunes, but who was especially passionate about Proust, Verlaine and Rimbaud, whose manuscripts he collected,” quotesElle magazine. Their mother, Vera Rechulski Santo Domingo, is Brazilian and loves travelling more than anything. The multicultural family moved to Arizona and Geneva, and then, for Tatiana, Paris and London. In the summer, the Santo Domingos would travel to more distant destinations, including Morocco, where Tatiana’s mother lived for several years, and Bali, where her godfather owns a house.
The famous meeting
We learned in the celebrity press, such asGala magazine, that it was through his sister Charlotte that Andrea Casiraghi met his future wife and mother of his children. The two girls had attended the Fontainebleau lycée in Paris together a few years earlier and quickly became friends. Right from the outset, the couple managed to keep their relationship out of the public gaze, and even their wedding was a discreet affair.
On the invitation, guests were asked not to share any photos of the event, but a snapshot of Tatiana’s hen party was posted on Instagram and picked up by the tabloids. It shows the bride-to-be in a red dress alongside her friends, including heiresses Bianca Brandolini and Eugénie Niarchos, and her future sister-in-law Charlotte. They are pictured on a magnificent yacht, and the other women are dressed in white with big floral crowns on their heads. No wild parties on the horizon, on the contrary, the young woman was a mum whose baby was just a few months old, so the bridal team opted for a tea party.
That July, Princess Caroline, the mother of the groom-to-be, announced in a press release that Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo had become engaged. After seven years together, Tatiana was by no means an unknown, as she had already accompanied her soulmate to some of Monaco’s key events, including the Bal de la Rose, the enthronement of Prince Albert II, the Grand Prix and the wedding of the Sovereign and Princess Charlene.
The lovebirds, aged 29 at the time, said “I do” in two stages. First in Monaco for the civil ceremony on 31 August 2013, in front of 300 guests. A religious ceremony was then held in Gstaad, Switzerland, on 1 February 2014. In the Principality, as reported by Cnews, the groom made a grand entrance at the Prince’s Palace, the venue chosen for the ceremony, which did not, however, generate the same buzz as Prince Albert’s wedding.
He was accompanied by three other guests in a vintage military jeep late that morning. The other guests, gifts in hand, arrived in small groups on foot, by taxi, in chauffeur-driven sedans or in minibuses with tinted windows. The very private ceremony was followed by a lunch, again at the Prince’s residence, and then festivities in town.
After Monaco, a wedding in Switzerland
The next part of the wedding took place in Switzerland. A completely different setting and a completely different season. It was on a freezing February day that the couple were joined before God in a beautiful ceremony in the little Swiss village of Rougemont, not far from Gstaad. The whole family and a host of society figures were there. Prince Albert II and his wife Princess Charlene were present, as were the groom’s sister Charlotte Casiraghi and her partner at the time, comedian Gad Elmaleh, who had recently become parents.
In the few photos that were released, guests can be seen arriving under umbrellas to keep off the snowflakes.. It was an idyllic setting for the wedding, which continued with a party at the Palace de Gstaad with friends of the couple, who are still very much together today, since they celebrated their pewter wedding anniversary last summer for the civil ceremony, and next winter for the church wedding. At the time, they took advantage of their stay in Gstaad to baptise their son on 30 January, a couple of days before their religious ceremony.
To date, the couple have brought three children into the world, two boys and a girl: Alexandre Andrea Stefano, known as Sacha, born in March 2013 a few months before their wedding, India, born in April 2015, and Maximilian, born in April 2018. The three childen are never very far from their four cousins. There are Stefano and Francesco, the children of Andrea’s brother Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo. Charlotte Casiraghi, is the mother of two boys, Raphaël, 9, from her relationship with Gad Elmaleh, and Balthazar, 5, whose father is the producer Dimitri Rassam.
A fashionista at heart
After attending the International School of Geneva and the Institut Le Rosey in Switzerland, Tatiana continued her studies at a boarding school in Fontainebleau, France, where, as previously mentioned, she met her future husband’s sister. After completing her Fine Arts Master’s Degree at the American University of London, she worked as an intern at Alberta Ferretti and then at Giovanni Bianco in New York, before going on to work for the American magazine Vanity Fair.
It was in 2010, after meeting the young Iranian Dana Alikhani, who at the time was completing a master’s degree in human rights in New York and was thinking about a platform to promote the work and rights of the world’s craftspeople, that Tatiana embarked on the Muzungu Sisters adventure (which means “the wandering sisters,” “muzungu” being a Swahili word).
This ethical slow-fashion brand, which she co-founded, supports local artisans in Peru, India and Hungary by buying traditional, handmade clothes at a fair price and then marketing them. “Travelling leads, often by chance, to these miraculous little hands,” she told Elle in the exclusive interview mentioned above.
Tatiana seemed destined for a career in fashion. “My mother is a black belt in market shopping. When we were children, we were always dressed in ‘ethnic’ clothes, djellabas and harem pants,” Tatiana recalls. “It was my brother’s worst nightmare,” she told the magazine’s journalists. She would go into the souks with an ever-longer list on every trip : “My friends would ask me to bring things back, sarongs from Bali, little bags from Colombia. I started to think that maybe I should open a shop.”
A few pop-up stores have been created, for example at the Hôtel de Paris in May, but the main business is online, and on the brand’s site, you can find a whole range of articles for men, women, children and the home.
The pieces are considered by the founders to be “timeless heirlooms that are designed to be kept for generations.” In fact, it is not unusual to see her children wearing her colourful brand. At every appearance, her outfits still stand out today… Made up of vintage dresses, Moroccan jackets or Peruvian boleros, her looks are eye-catching because of their patterns, colours and shapes. At her wedding, she created a sensation with a lace dress by Missoni and flowers in her hair, a choice that was perfectly suited to the summer season in the Principality, and she turned to designer Valentino for her winter weeding, says Grazia.
In addition to her business, Tatiana supports several charitable organisations, such as the Fondation Paralysie Cérébrale , which funds research on cerebral palsy, AMADE, and the Fondation Virlanie. It’s a fast-paced life, but one that seems to fit her like a glove!
The Sovereign and the Princess reminisced on the occasion of the Centenary Ball.
On Wednesday 25 October, the well-known Point de Vue magazine published an exclusive interview with Prince Albert II and Princess Stéphanie, carried out by journalist Emmanuel Cirodde, who was invited to the Prince’s Palace for the occasion.
When asked about the celebrations to mark the centenary of the birth of Prince Rainier III, the Sovereign and Princess Stéphanie spoke first about the organisation of the commemorations. “Each event triggered a lot of emotions through the memories and anecdotes that came back to us. We wanted to organise these commemorations to reflect what our father loved and to be able to thank him (…) We were keen to show that he wanted to give Monaco legitimacy and credibility. He couldn’t stand the term ‘Operetta Principality’,” Princess Stéphanie began.
“He was the “builder prince” of concrete projects such as amenities and infrastructure, but also the “builder prince” of the constitution in 1962 and many other initiatives,” added the Sovereign.
They both also talked about their early attendance of the major events in the Principality, such as the Rose and Red Cross balls. “When I was a teenager, I didn’t want to go! At a certain age, it’s not that much fun to find yourself in a dress, in your Sunday best, sitting at a table for four hours and being scrutinised by everyone. But we often went as a family, and it became our own time,” said Princess Stéphanie.
“It’s true that when you’re 16 or 17, you might want to be doing something else. And these events can be very daunting and intimidating,” confirmed the Sovereign.
Princess Stéphanie “more pampered” as the youngest child
The Prince also recalled his initiation into the role of Sovereign “in small steps.” “It was a gradual apprenticeship. I attended government councils and cabinet meetings [at my father’s side](…) Then, if you’ll pardon the expression, it was my turn to get my hands dirty,” he said.
Princess Stéphanie acknowledged that she got special attention because of her status as the youngest member of the family. “She was spoiled,” says the Prince.
“Being seven and eight years younger than my brother and sister made a difference. My brother was adorable, he always put up with me, I always wanted to play with him. He was unfailingly patient with me and I thank him for that. I didn’t have a brother or sister my own age, so I always used to turn to him and his friends,” says the Princess.
Princess Stéphanie also recalls the time she spent with her father when she was a child: “I wanted to be with him whenever possible. I remember that around midday he would go to the zoological garden. I finished school at half past eleven, and I would run so I could spend time with him. (…) Perhaps being the youngest, I was more pampered, or I got away with more things. But I don’t think I took advantage too much. And I must admit my brother was very patient with me, especially as I was a bit hyperactive as a child…”
Prince Rainier III: “so proud and happy to be a grandfather”
The Prince and Princess also revealed the games they played as children, such as Monopoly and construction games.. “I used to steal your Action Man figures to organise weddings with my Barbies ,” Princess Stéphanie reminded the Sovereign.
As for Prince Rainier III’s parenting, Prince Albert II and Princess Stéphanie are adamant that the Builder Prince was a “very lovingfatherand always in a good mood,” who “would leave his concerns at the office” and who had “an incredible sense of humour.”
While Prince Rainier III was described as “demanding but fair,” Princess Grace showed great compassion for others. “They taught us to be honest and upright. To know how to stick to our guns while remaining open to the world,” said Princess Stéphanie.
The Princess also spoke about Prince Rainier III as a grandfather: a man who was very important to his grandchildren. Not only for Camille Gottlieb, who remembers their Wednesday get-togethers: “my son Louis also has a lot of love and admiration for his grandfather, as do my daughter Pauline and Princess Caroline’s children. He was so proud and happy to be a grandfather,” says Princess Stéphanie.
In 2022, the Prince’s Government wanted to set an example in terms of the energy crisis and climate change by scrapping the facility.
Although the traditional ice rink was replaced by a Roller Station (open until the end of February 2023), it doesn’t satisfy ice fans, who miss the facility. They had a spokesperson in Mathilde Le Clerc at the Public Budget Session on Monday 16 October.
Addressing Patrice Cellario in the National Council Chamber, the Chairwoman of the Education, Youth and Sport Committee raised the question: “Although I understand the energy impact issue, on which I would like some explanations, the consequences are harsh, both for the Monegasque Skating Federation and for all ice sports enthusiasts. Minister, why not consider temporarily covering over the Stade Nautique Rainier III to make an indoor facility, like for some of the facilities at the Monaco Yacht Show? This would make it possible to keep the energy impact down, and at the same time create opportunities for events and activities in particular.”
An artificial rink?
The Minister of the Interior replied: “There won’t be a rink again this year, as the Town Council has already made known, but discussions are underway to examine how we could drastically reduce the facility’s energy needs. We want to find a solution that would cover the infrastructure, but we need to gauge if it is feasible or appropriate to do so. For the time being, we do not have any concrete answers, and the future will depend on the findings of the studies.” Studies that, according to Councillor Le Clerc, should have been anticipated.
Fabrice Notari, Chairman of the Commission for Foreign Affairs, but above all an international athlete who skiied for Monaco at the Olympic Games, suggested an alternative: “there aresynthetic surfaces that are 95% as slippery as ice and are completely recyclable. These panels allow you to have a rink that is not affected by heat. Holiday on Ice, for example, is able to put on fabulous shows on these artificial rinks.” The Government seems open to the idea.
“We are breaking the momentum of some Monegasques”
“The rink is an important issue because it enables several sports federations to exist,” said Roland Mouflard. “Figure skating, ice hockey, curling… There are no fewer than 31 Olympic disciplines on ice, a third of the winter sports events at the games. I don’t understand how we can tolerate an absence of this type of facility. We are breaking the momentum of some Monegasques. No Monegasques will be able to go to the Olympic Games in the coming years, because we don’t have the facility,” said the Vice-President for Businesses and Innovation in the Finance and Economy Commission.
According to the elected representative, the decision not to provide a rink for two years is not coherent, especially since Monaco wishes to become the world capital of sport 2025. Patrice Cellario replied that it was still possible to train outside the Principality, while acknowledging the complexity of the subject.
The SPORTEL Awards 2023 ceremony was held on Monday evening at the Grimaldi Forum, in the presence of Mélina Robert Michon, this year’s jury president. Here is the full list of the evening’s winners.
“The Principality of Monaco is particularly honoured to be applying for the “Monaco, World Capital of Sport” label because I firmly believe in the positive and lasting impact of the essential sporting values that have been passed on to me,” stated H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince in the foreword to the bid that was submitted to the members of the jury.
“Through talent, the Principality has been able to assert its international sporting influence; a City-State can be a world benchmark for ethical, sustainable, inclusive and dedicated sports activities.”
Miami and Baku in the running
Over the course of four days, the nine members of ACES were able to gain an insight into Monegasque sports policy, visit the Principality’s main facilities and organisations and talk to representatives who make up the highly diverse and thriving local sports community.
They were also able to watch the Euroleague match between AS Monaco and ALBA Berlin at the Salle Gaston-Médecin.
“We were able to illustrate in concrete terms the Government’s top three sporting priorities: sport in schools, grassroots sport, and competitive sport. A policy that is endorsed at the highest level by H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince,” said Patrice Cellario.
“The label would be an international recognition and would be a fine reward for the sports policy pursued by the Principality.Gaining this title would be particularly fitting in 2025, the year in which we will be celebrating 20 years since Prince Albert II’s accession to the throne.”
Initially competing against Monaco were Miami (United States) and Baku (Azerbaijan), who then withdrew their bids, clearing the way for Monaco’s application. The announcement of Monaco as 2025’s “world capital of sport” should be made within the fortnight.
The Peace and Sport Middle-East Forum, organised by the Saudi Arabian Olympic and Paralympic Committee, is a premium platform for dialogue on peace through sport.
It brought together decision-makers, champions for peace, and experts to discuss the theme “Sport is an answer for peace,” in the presence of Prince Albert II.
“I share the conviction that sport has a unique and extraordinary vocation to bring people together for a common cause, to enable communities that have been torn apart to re-establish ties and to help populations’ resilience,” said the Sovereign.
“Putting the values of sport at the service of sustainable peace and making it a driving force for social integration for the most disadvantaged is certainly one of the most beautiful causes that man can defend.”
One of the highlights of the debates was the presence of football stars who are committed to coexistence and inclusion through sport, such as Nadia Nadim, 2023 Champion for Peace of the Year, Didier Drogba, Vice-President of Peace and Sport, and Sadio Mané, the Senegalese international.
The forum focused on four central themes: supporting athletes’ social commitment, maximising the social impact of sporting events, creating coalitions to foster best practices, and promoting the campaign.
Saudi Arabia’s new Champions for Peace inducted
“We share a vision of sport as a fair and universal tool. A fantastic asset to establish a culture of peace and collective well-being through dialogue,” said Joël Bouzou, President and Founder of Peace and Sport, in his opening address. “This is not simply a matter of affirming a conviction, it is a matter of demonstrating, through concrete evidence.”
The Peace and Sports Awards ceremony brought the event to a close, promoting best practice in sport as a tool for peace.
Sadio Mané (Al Nassr), the first recipient of the Socrates Award, which rewards footballers who are most committed to society through their solidarity initiatives, confessed that he was “very happy” to receive the Socrates Award, “not for the trophy itself,” but because he realised “the extent of the impact” his actions had on his community.
The ceremony ended with the induction of new Saudi Arabian Champions for Peace, who will spread the message of Peace through Sport in the Kingdom.
The full list of winners: Peace through Sport Initiative of the Year: Zalmi Foundation (Pakistan), Georges Malaika Foundation (Democratic Republic of Congo). Combat Sport Initiative of the Year: World Taekwondo. Special Jury Prize: Gamers Without Borders (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia). Peace Champion of the Year: Nadia Nadim (Denmark).
“The values of respect, cooperation and fair play rooted in sport are without doubt part of the concept of peace and positive engagement in order to achieve a common language that unites us in different parts of the world,” said Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal in conclusion.
The Government of Monaco strongly recommends that “people aged 65 and over and those at risk of severe forms of the disease are vaccinated as a protective measure.” With the arrival of autumn, a new dose of the Covid-19 vaccine can now be prescribed to any Monegasques, Monaco residents, people covered by the Principality’s social security system or children attending school in Monaco aged 12 or over.
The adult Comirnaty Omicron XBB1.5 vaccine was produced by Pfizer and BioNTech, and can be obtained as follows:
Contact the Centre Monégasque de Dépistage (Screening Centre) in the Princess Grace Hospital (CHPG) on (+377) 97.98.83.02 to make an appointment.
Make an appointment with your GP at the surgery or at home if you are unable to travel.
Go to one of the Principality’s pharmacies.
The health professional who carries out the vaccination will ask you to complete a medical questionnaire to check that there are no contraindications. Please note that for minors aged between 12 and 17, the opinion of a paediatrician and the agreement of legal guardians – generally both parents – or the sole legal guardian are required. The consent form can be downloaded from www.covid19.mc.
With AS Monaco without many key defensive players for their Ligue 1 clash with Metz, Adi Hutter opted to go for a four at the back shape, which contained Wilfried Singo, Chrislain Matsima, Ismail Jakobs and Krepin Diatta.
While three of those men are familiar with operating in true defensive roles, the latter man on that list in Diatta, who was deployed at right-back, certainly isn’t used to forming part of the last line.
While he’s played in wing-back style roles previously, operating in this position was definitely not the Senegalese international’s preferred or most comfortable post. But to his credit, Diatta rose to the occasion and emphatically vindicated his manager’s selection by putting in an excellent shift.
Flexing his muscles especially on the offensive end, which was to be expected, there was much to like about his output here within Hutter’s framework that actually catered tidily to his characteristics due to Metz being content sitting so deep.
Due to ASM enjoying the vast majority of possession, this ensured Diatta could ostensibly act as a right-winger, which ensured he could smoothly adapt his skill set in order to stamp his mark with aplomb.
Diatta’s Heat Map
Typically operating high and wide on the right to stretch Metz horizontally and vertically, this meant he was always on hand to receive switches to be isolated against his direct opponent. Relishing every chance to drive at his opponent 1v1 with time and space, where he could use his blistering speed and silky skills to wreak havoc, the way nominal right-winger, Takumi Minamino, edged infield duly amplified the room he had to work in.
The slick timing of his upfield bursts was notable as well, for he’d pounce when his marker was caught slightly out of position or ball watching, wait for Minamino to drag his man centrally and exploit the blindside of his trackers when the ball was on the opposite flank, where he could use his dynamic advantage over his ball-facing adversary.
Sublimely timed run in behind
Superb depth run while forming a 3v2
It was also impressive how he’d vary things by rotating with Minamino to embark on some dangerous underlapping runs into the final third to take advantage of any space that arose due to the confusion associated with the interchange.
How he’d pin his marker wide also generated a disconnect within the Metz backline, thus manufacturing space for channel runs to be made into the final third.
Causing a serious nuisance with the ball at his feet too, Diatta’s fleet feet, superb agility and wicked acceleration and top speed elevated his threat. Playing with confidence and flair, it was impressive to see him outfox and gain separation from his foes using his crafty changes of pace and direction, whirring feints and neat control to evade trouble.
Proving an elusive proposition to combat, his ball carrying had the added bonus of allowing him to draw multiple markers to free up others and rapidly gain territory vs. retreating defenders, who were wary of diving in, knowing he could punish any missteps.
The talented 24-year-old’s passing qualities were also on show, with his precision and vision ensuring he injected life into attacks with measured through balls in behind and down the channels, tidy crosses and cutbacks, incisive passes into the feet of the attackers and crisp combination play.
Crisp through ball after a slick dribble
Clever through ball
Measured through ball in behind
Very handy at creating promising openings and progressing the ball into ideal zones, his aptitude here further compounded issues for the away team.
Diatta’s Pass Map
Meanwhile, much upside could be extracted from his determined defensive contribution, for he tracked back diligently, was strong in the air, applied his interventions wisely, worked hard to support his colleagues and fulfilled his responsibilities soundly.
By the the numbers, his 60 completed passes at 90%, six progressive runs, four dribbles at 100%, four accurate passes into the box, two touches inside the box, one shot, 14 won duels, 13 ball recoveries, four interceptions, two won aerial duels and two clearances illustrated his multifaceted body of work that deservedly earned him a place in the famed L’Equipe team of the week.
Ligue 1 Team of the Week – @ASM’s website
“I try, but everyone knows it’s not my preferred position. When it’s for the team, you have to sacrifice, you have to do it. The most important thing is not me, it’s the team. As long as I could help, in any position, I will try to do so. Even if it is not my preferred position, I will try to give the best of myself,” he explained afterwards.
Producing a terrific display and grasping his opportunity in the absence of Vanderson with both hands, Diatta will be hoping this is the catalyst for him to obtain some vital additional minutes.
With competition fierce for places all over the pitch, such a polished performance bodes well for his immediate situation, with him illustrating what an asset his versatility is.
After one of his best efforts yet in an ASM shirt and having started and played the full 90 in the last two matches, keeping an eye on how he fares will be fascinating for table-topping Monaco especially given his struggles to truly breakthrough since arriving in January of 2021.
Whatever happens, Diatta will be doing everything in his power to establish himself within this Les Monegasques side, who are riding the crest of a wave and looking formidable in their search to return to the Champions League and maybe even challenge for Ligue 1 title honours.
Prince Albert II, Princess Stephanie, Louis and Marie Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb were present for the fabulous event, dedicated to Prince Rainier III.
There was a big buzz around the Place du Casino on the evening of Friday October 20. Dinner jackets and long dresses made their way up the red-carpeted steps to the Atrium of the Casino de Monte-Carlo, where the Centenary Ball was taking place: a ball organised by the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer (SBM) as part of the centenial commemorations of the birth of Prince Rainier III.
Greeted by Stéphane Valeri, the Group’s Chairman and CEO, Prince Albert II, Princess Stéphanie, Louis and Marie Ducruet and Camille Gottlieb were all present for this timeless reception. For the occasion, Princess Stéphanie chose a dress she had worn when she accompanied her father, Prince Rainier III to a grand Monegasque ball. Marie Ducruet wore a dress by Jenny Packham, who previously dressed Kate Middleton for the London premiere of the most recent James Bond film.
The Minister of State, Pierre Dartout, the Mayor, Georges Marsan, and many other leading figures from the Principality were invited to the ball, which was hosted by journalist Yann-Antony Noghès. Formula 2 driver Arthur Leclerc also attended, on the arm of his partner Carla Brocker, as did model Baptiste Giabiconi.
The aim of the evening was, of course, to honour Prince Rainier III, but also to raise funds for Fight Aids Monaco through the auction of three works by Monegasque artist Lukas Avalon, depicting the Builder Prince. The silent auction raised 41,000 euros for Princess Stéphanie’s charity.
The 132 guests enjoyed a delicious six-course dinner, with live music, before making their way to the Opéra Garnier stage. After a brief pause, a voice rang out and the curtain opened to reveal British singer Leona Lewis, who performed a selection of songs, including the smash hit Bleeding Love, accompanied by her pianist. Which was the Sovereign’s cue to invite Princess Stéphanie to dance. Both were soon joined by the Princely Family.
She was joined by her children Charlotte Casiraghi, accompanied by her husband Dimitri Rassam, and Andrea Casiraghi, as well as actress Carole Bouquet and singer Angélique Kidjo.
Unusual as it may seem, the dinner took place on the actual stage of the Garnier Opera House. A surreal dinner orchestrated by Charles Kaisin and prepared by the double-starred chef from Martinique, Marcel Ravin, to celebrate Amade’s 60th anniversary.
The members of the charity, whose work is devoted to the protection of children, joined its President, Princess Caroline, and around a hundred donors. Among the guests, the charity was able to count on the loyal support of Charlotte Casiraghi and her husband Dimitri Rassam, Andrea Casiraghi, Carole Bouquet and Angélique Kidjo.
Despite falling behind after just four minutes, AS Monaco produced a brilliant comeback, that was led by the masterful Aleksandr Golovin, who bagged a breathtaking brace, to record a crucial 2-1 victory over Metz at the Stade Louis II under the watchful eye of President Dmitry Rybolovlev.
The Match
Faced with a host of personnel issues for this clash, Adi Hutter opted to switch things up and select a 4-4-2 shape, which notably featured a back four consisting of Wilfried Singo, Chrislain Matsima, Krepin Diatta and Ismail Jakobs.
@ASM
Although ASM started off with authority, they quickly fell behind through Lamine Camara’s astonishing strike from beyond the halfway line to give Metz the early lead.
The home team then immediately responded, as Golovin and Mohamed Camara fired off some dangerous efforts that ultimately didn’t beat Alexandre Oukidja in goal.
Dominant and in control, a piece of pure genius from Golovin then propelled Les Monegasques level just prior to the interval when his scintillating long range blast rippled the back of the net.
Metz then raced out of the blocks to begin the second period by unleashing some handy efforts, but thankfully Philipp Kohn was on hand to deny the likes of Ablie Jallow and Danley Jean-Jacques.
Having weathered this storm, it was ASM who powered ahead, with Golovin again weaving his magic – this time with an exceptional free-kick from all of 30 yards that cannoned in off the post in the 55th minute.
With the lead and full of confidence, finding a sealing goal was next on the agenda for ASM. And even though Youssouf Fofana (in his 150th game for the club), Takumi Minamino, Maghnes Akliouche, Folarin Balogun and Wissam Ben Yedder enjoyed some strong efforts, they couldn’t extend their advantage.
Their inability to find that cushion almost proved costly, only for Kohn to secure the points for Monaco courtesy of some late heroics. The triumph importantly sees Hutter’s men return to the summit of Ligue 1 and extend their winning streak to three matches.
Hutter’s Debrief
“I’m happy to win this evening because these are three important points. The first and second periods were different, there were a lot of differences. During the first 45 minutes, we played too slowly and we were too easy to defend against. Golo scored a magnificent goal before the break, which really helped us,” insisted the Austrian tactician.
“In the second, Maghnes contributed well in his role as a free and creative player. It’s true that it was an offensive choice, but it was the decision to make. I want to congratulate my team because we have only been testing this four-man (at the back) system since Friday. But in the end, we took three deserved points despite the absence of many players in defence.
“It is very positive today not to have lost any points. It was important to win, but we still have to work because we are not 100% in all sectors.”
Golovin’s Wizardry
The playmaking genius of Golovin yet again rose to the fore for Monaco, with the diminutive attacker tilting the match in his team’s favour with two moments of sheer inspiration.
Such a key driving force towards this latest win, the way he can change the game in an instant was such a key asset. And this match was the latest testament to his immense quality.
Aside from his remarkable aforementioned double, which emphatically underlined his scoring prowess, his intelligence to astutely find space to breathe life into attacks, artistry on the dribble to outfox foes and craftiness to weave away from trouble and ingenuitive passing to set up others was on full show.
Golovin’s Pass Map
An elite reader of the play, who boasts superb vision and awareness of his surroundings to amplify his positonal nous and class with the ball at his feet (as discussed in our recent analysis on the gifted attacker), this further compounded issues for Metz.
Golovin’s Heat Map
The stats aptly tell the story of his magnificent day at the office, as he created five chances, had four shots, made four successful passes into the final third, embarked on four fruitful dribbles, struck six accurate long passes, whipped in two accurate crosses, completed 49 passes at 84% and chimed in with 10 defensive interventions to nicely supplement his pair of goals.
Fitting excellently into Hutter’s plans and now up to four goals and one assist for Les Rouge et Blanc this term, it’s been a joy to watch him continue his outstanding form from last crusade, where he was unquestionably his team’s best player in what his finest season yet on the French Riviera.
Key Match Stats
By the numbers, the fact ASM held the ascendancy in terms of expected goals (1.83 to 0.97), total shots (27 to 8), shots on target (13 to 4), shots inside the box (15 to 7), passes in the opposition half (463 to 70) and overall duels won (55 to 46) highlighted their supremacy.
Lille Awaits
Following their latest character-filled, come from behind display, which means they’ve now secured 11 points from losing positions already this campaign, Monaco will quickly shift their attention to their tough road clash with Lille, who currently occupy fourth in the standings.
“I’m happy that my team has been able to turn things around since the start of the season because we took 11 points like this. We have to be patient in our game. It’s very positive to change the trend of a match,” Hutter asserted on their powers of recovery.
The question was raised on Thursday during the Public Budget Session at the National Council. “I was shocked to discover that the cut-off on cigarette sales in Monaco is 16, years old instead of 18, as in most other countries,” said Christophe Robino, referring to law no. 1.346 of 9 May 2008 on smoking prevention. “Tabling this bill [on puffs] will give us the opportunity of bringing a number of the law’s provisions up to date,” he added.
Christophe Robino also hopes that the bill will be introduced before the end of the year. For the time being, the text will only deal with sales and not use. “I would tend to be in favour of banning these disposable devices from the country altogether. (…) But in a country like Monaco, however I think it would be difficult to ban use by adult visitors who come with a ‘puff’ they bought at home. (…) If we move towards a total ban, we might also ask ourselves: why not ban refills? We need to find a balance.”
National Councillor Mathilde Le Clerc stressed, however, that an outright ban on sales might not be enough to combat addiction among young people: “There are retailers who sell these items very close to our borders, andyou only have to walk a few metres to get them.”
On a somewhat similar question, National Councillor Thomas Brezzo called for clarification of the regulations on CBD, a cannabis derivative that contains no psychotropic substances and is currently sold over the counter in France and Italy: “there is a lack of regulation in the Principality that can be open to interpretation. I think we need some clarification. (…) People who buy it freely in Beausoleil and then cross the road into Monaco run the risk of breaking the law. Some clear communication would be welcome.”
The Alpes-Maritimes and the Principality have been placed on red alert for rain and flooding.
On Thursday evening, the Government of Monaco issued a press release after the neighbouring Département and Monaco were placed on red alert for the morning of Friday 20 October.
“In view of the situation, and as a precautionary measure, the Government of Monaco wishes to announce that all schools and nurseries in the Principality of Monaco, as well as outdoor activities (fairs, parks, markets, etc.) will be closed all day on Friday.”
The Town Council also gave details of certain closures:
“In keeping with the Government of Monaco’s decision, all municipal creches, the Rainier III Academy, the Ecole Supérieure d’Arts Plastiques – Pavillon Bosio, outdoor traders at the Monte-Carlo, Condamine and Monaco-Ville markets, the Jardin Exotique Botanical Centre and the Parc Princesse Antoinette will remain closed on Friday 20 October 2023. The Louis Notari Library will only be open in the afternoon, from 1pm to 6.30 pm The Foire Attractions will not be opening to the public at 2pm as originally planned. The opening is postponed, subject to the weather conditions.”
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