Monaco 2 - 1 Bordeaux: Monaco move five points clear at Ligue 1 summit after beating Bordeaux

Posted Sunday, March 12, 2017 by PA

Second half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Joao Moutinho saw Monaco stretch their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to five points with a 2-1 win over Bordeaux.

The home side had been frustrated by the visitors for long periods but the introduction of top scorer Radamel Falcao led to the breakthrough as he set up Mbappe's 68th minute opener.

It was an important win for Leonardo Jardim's men after second-place Nice were held by Caen on Friday night, and set them up nicely for next week's Champions League second leg against Manchester City.

Jardim may have had that in mind as he left Falcao out of his starting line-up and it was a decision he may have come to regret had Bordeaux striker Malcolm steered a good fourth minute chance on target.

The home side had their first chance in the 23rd minute when Djibril Sidibe's header was well saved by Bordeaux keeper Cedric Carrasso, then Kamil Glik headed narrowly wide from a Joao Moutinho cross.

Increasingly Bordeaux's best chances of extending their lead looked to be from long range but efforts by Younousse Sankhare and Jaroslav Plasil failed to trouble Danijel Subasic in the Monaco goal.

Monaco poured on the pressure just before half-time with Carrasso saving from both Jemerson and Thomas Lemar before Valere Germain fired just wide of the target.

Mbappe grew in prominence after a quiet start to the second period, having a shot blocked then hitting another wide just before the hour-mark, prompting Jardim to introduce Falcao on 65 minutes.

Three minutes later the move paid off as Falcao's cross was converted by the striker to give his side the lead, and six minutes later Moutinho doubled Monaco's lead as he curled home a superb effort from outside the box.

The home side had to survive a late scare after a mistake by Subasic gifted an 84th minute goal to Diego Rolan, but the visitors could not make the most of their unlikely opportunity.