AS Monaco, after having secured two initial victories this season, faced Lens in a match that ended in a 1-1 draw, marking a near miss for a third consecutive win, a feat not achieved since 2017. The Red and Whites, led by their new captain Denis Zakaria, initially took the lead with Zakaria's header in the 84th minute, only to see their efforts nullified by a penalty scored by Lens' Przemysław Frankowski in stoppage time. This tie leaves AS Monaco still undefeated and in a strong position near the top of the league standings.
In this match, both teams started with equal points, promising a competitive clash. Monaco's manager, Adi Hütter, made significant changes to the team's defense, introducing Jordan Teze, Christian Mawissa, Wilfried Singo, and Kassoum Ouattara in the starting lineup. Despite the hot conditions and a goalless first half, both sides had significant opportunities, with Monaco's Folarin Balogun and Zakaria himself coming close to scoring before the breakthrough late in the game.
The deadlock was finally broken near the match's end, but the celebration was short-lived as a handball by Zakaria awarded Lens a penalty, which Frankowski converted. The game, which ended with a tense finish as a header from Monaco's Breel Embolo narrowly missed, demonstrated the high stakes and intense competition in the league. Monaco now looks forward to their next match against Auxerre after the international break, aiming to maintain their strong start to the season.
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