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Ligue 1 Top Five, Round Seven: Aleksandr Golovin
Ligue 1

Ligue 1 Top Five, Round Seven: Aleksandr Goalovin

The AS Monaco star scores a brace to get the principality side up and running in Ligue 1.

 
6:00pm on Thursday 26th September 2019
By
Martin Macdonald

After an awful season last year, things haven't looked much better for Monaco so far in 2019/20.

However, they did manage to claim their first win of the campaign this midweek as they defeated Nice 3-1 at home, with Aleksandr Golovin showing his class on the night.

The biggest story of the round concerns Reims defeating PSG 2-0, but neither team has players featured in our top five.

Monaco desperately needed inspiration in round seven following zero victories from their opening six fixtures. They got it via Golovin who initially opened the scoring with a thunderbolt of a left-footed strike into the top corner from inside the area. Thereafter, he netted a second with a clever run and finish before setting up Ben Yedder for the third with a slid pass through the middle.

Second entry in a row for Court, who made the weekend's top five with his two assists for Brest in a 2-2 draw with Bordeaux. Here, he finished the chances himself, scoring two in the exact same result as against Lyon. The home side twice fought back from a goal down to peg Lyon back, with Court scoring the first equaliser with a cross-cum-shot which flew into the corner, and the second five minutes from time with a snapshot finish at the near post.

Two goals of the very, very highest quality from Adli helped Bordeaux to a comfortable 3-1 win away at Amiens to put Les Girondins up to fifth in the table The first, scored eight minutes in to equalise, saw him take advantage of some awful goalkeeping to receive the ball from Otavio to guide an absolutely perfect strike into the top right corner from the edge of the area. His second was just as good, if not better, as he whipped an unstoppable free-kick into the opposite corner from a similar area to his first.

A defensive player gets some love now as Perrin showed his resilience in Marseille's 0-0 stalemate with Dijon. The fact the hosts didn't get on the scoresheet is largely due to the impressive 20-year-old, who won the majority of his duels and aerial duels, as well as making five ball recoveries, four interceptions, and six clearances. Probably should remember this lad's name.

Alioui of Angers gets a place in the top five after surely scoring the goal of the round. Standing over a 35-yeard free-kick, the substitute (he came on with 30 minutes remaining) dipped a quite incredible strike in off the crossbar. His second, scored in injury time, was a lot simpler as he was unselfishly set-up by Casimir Ninga to slot home.

HONOURABLE MENTIONS

Gabriel (8.55) of Lille was vital for his side in their 2-0 victory over Strasbourg. He might not get the plaudits of goalscorers Victor Osimhen or Loic Remy, but his defensive prowess was there for all to see. Five ball recoveries, two interceptions, three clearances. Simple in the end.

ROUND TO FORGET

Amiens centre-back Bakaye Dibassy (4.9) was instrumentally detrimental to his side's loss against Bordeaux. He won only half of his tackles, lost the majority of his aerial duels, and failed to make a single interception. Throw in a booking for good measure.

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