Folarin Balogun delivered a moment of quality as AS Monaco edged Olympique de Marseille 2-1 to boost their push for a UEFA Champions League place.
The victory, Monaco’s seventh in a row in Ligue 1, lifts them level on points with Marseille and within touching distance of the automatic qualification spots, underlining a remarkable turnaround after a difficult spell earlier in the season.
Balogun’s goal proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter that came to life in the second half.
After a relatively slow opening period, both sides struggled to find rhythm despite early efforts from Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche and Marseille’s Hamed Traorè.
Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was called into action multiple times to keep the score level before the break, denying clear chances and ensuring Monaco stayed in the contest.
The hosts returned from the interval with renewed intensity and took the lead just before the hour mark. A well-delivered ball into the area was met by Aleksandr Golovin, who finished clinically to give Monaco the advantage.
Marseille responded with urgency, led by their captain Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, but were repeatedly frustrated by Hradecky’s commanding presence in goal.
Monaco, meanwhile, adopted a counter-attacking approach, waiting for opportunities to exploit gaps in the opposition defence.
That patience paid off in the 74th minute when Balogun produced a moment of individual brilliance. Latching onto a loose ball, the striker accelerated past his marker before calmly finishing beyond goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.
The goal not only doubled Monaco’s lead but also highlighted Balogun’s growing influence in the team’s attacking play.
The strike carried additional significance, making him the first Monaco player since 2019 to score in six consecutive league matches — a sign of his consistency at a crucial stage of the campaign.
Marseille managed to pull one back late on through Amine Gouiri, who forced his way through the defence to score, but the comeback fell short as Monaco held on to secure all three points.
The result reflects a dramatic shift in Monaco’s fortunes.
Earlier in the season, a poor run of form had raised doubts about their European ambitions and even placed pressure on the coaching staff.
owever, the current winning streak has reignited their hopes of returning to elite European competition.
Balogun’s rise continues to draw attention. Born in the United States to Nigerian parents and raised in England, his journey reflects the global pathways increasingly shaping modern football.
His current form places him among the standout performers in Ligue 1, with his goals playing a decisive role in Monaco’s resurgence.
