Brunner’s Brilliance Leads Monaco to Victory Over Marseille
Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 2, 30/08/26
Paris Brunner scored two impressive goals as AS Monaco defeated rivals Olympique de Marseille at Stade Louis II, potentially marking Lamine Camara’s final appearance for the club.
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The Match
PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 2-0 Marseille: Lamine Camara and Paris Brunner star in resounding win
Monaco took an early lead as Brunner scored a straightforward header from a set-piece, marking his third goal this season, and his first in Ligue 1. The former Borussia Dortmund player nearly increased his tally shortly after with a volley that was saved by Jeffrey De Lange.
Chances followed for Denis Zakaria and Stanis Idumbo, but Marseille failed to produce an opportunity. The second half saw two substitutions for Marseille, with Keyliane Abdallah replacing Himad Abdelli and Tochukwu Nnadi coming on for Quinten Timber. Abdallah almost added to the score but couldn’t find the net. Marseille appeared more aggressive, evidenced when Angel Gomes missed the target from just outside the box.
Timothy Weah hit the post, but soon after, Brunner struck again. He turned Geoffrey Kondogbia on the halfway line, made his way into the box, and coolly slotted the ball past De Lange, bringing his season tally to four goals.
Moments later, Kondogbia suffered an injury and was jeered by some fans as he left the pitch. Both Nnadi and Gomes experienced their own injury troubles, worsening an already thin roster for Marseille.
Marseille struggled to create significant scoring opportunities, with Amine Gouiri’s shot hitting Vanderson. Despite some attempts from Neal Maupay and Faris Moumbagna, Monaco maintained control and remained the only team to win their first two Ligue 1 matches, raising concerns for Marseille.
Monaco player ratings
Lukas Hradecky – 5
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Nazinho – 6
Eric Dier – 7
Dier, who appeared likely to leave earlier this summer, has made a remarkable return to form. He provided a strong performance, dominating the game and demonstrating an excellent ability to distribute the ball.
Sadibou Sané – 7
Vanderson – 5
Lamine Camara – 9
Camara was central to Monaco’s success, winning critical duels and making vital contributions all over the pitch. If this proves to be his last game for Monaco, it will be a memorable one.
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Denis Zakaria – 6
Stanis Idumbo – 5
Aleksandr Golovin – 5
Mamadou Coulibaly – 4
Paris Brunner – 8
Brunner made a mark at Stade Louis II, stepping up to fill a significant role. His performance signals him as one of Ligue 1’s emerging talents this season.
Marseille player ratings
Jeffrey De Lange – 4
Emerson – 5
CJ Egan-Riley – 3
Geoffrey Kondogbia – 2
Kondogbia struggled throughout the match, particularly in his duel with Brunner, which culminated in Brunner’s second goal. The fan reaction suggests a demand for his departure.
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Timothy Weah – 6
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 4
Angel Gomes – 5
Quinten Timber – 4
Timber was replaced by Tochukwu Nnadi (N/A) due to injury.
Himad Abdelli – 3
Replaced by Keylian Abdallah(4).
Amine Gouiri – 4
Gouiri struggled to step up in the absence of key attackers, failing to make an impact despite efforts to involve himself more in the game.
Amine Harit – 3
Harit did not find his rhythm and was unable to contribute significantly to the match.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco
Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Matchday 2, 30/08/26
Paris Brunner netted a stunning brace as AS Monaco beat rivals Olympique de Marseille at the Stade Louis II, in what could feasibly be Lamine Camara’s final game for the Principality club.
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The Match
PLAYER RATINGS | Monaco 2-0 Marseille: Lamine Camara and Paris Brunner star in resounding win
Without needing to force the issue, Monaco took the lead thanks to a simple header from Paris Brunner, unmarked, from the second phase of a set-piece. CJ Egan-Riley was at sixes and sevens as the German netted his third goal of the season but his first in Ligue 1. The former Borussia Dortmund man almost doubled his tally on the night with a volley soon after. After initially failing to connect with Stanis Idumbo’s cross, he was given a second bite of the cherry and hit it sweetly but straight at Jeffrey De Lange.
Half chances for Denis Zakaria and Stanis Idumbo followed; OM couldn’t muster a chance of their own. But there were two changes at the break, Keyliane Abdallah for Himad Abdelli and Tochukwu Nnadi for Crystal Palace-linked Quinten Timber. Abdallah, who netted last week, almost got another, popping up in the box but failing to make good contact. Lukas Hradecky was there to sweep up, but there was more intent from Marseille and that was confirmed when, seconds later, Angel Gomes worked space on the edge of the box, but fired over.
Timothy Weah then struck the outside of the post, but moments later, Bruno Genesio’s side were distanced. It was Brunner who humbled Geoffrey Kondogbia, turning him on the halfway line before then bursting into the box, cutting inside the OM defender, and then Egan-Riley and then calmly slotting beyond Jeffrey De Lange. Three games, four goals for the German.
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It couldn’t get worse, could it? It could. Seconds later, Kondogbia went down injured and was booed by his own fans on his way down the tunnel. Nnadi and Gomes then had scares. Both were ultimately forced off, despite initially continuing. Not what this threadbare OM team needs.
Needing goals, OM couldn’t create the chances needed to score them, or at least not enough. Amine Gouiri, largely absent on the night, brought down a ball, but, falling backwards, could only hit his shot at Vanderson, who had initially lost his man. Neal Maupay blasted a shot over and Faris Moumbagna had a shot blocked by Vanderson at the back post, but ASM never looked like ceding their advantage. Monaco are the only side to have won their first two Ligue 1 games; signs of worry now for OM.
Monaco player ratings
Lukas Hradecky – 5
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Nazinho – 6
Eric Dier – 7
A man who looked highly likely to leave earlier in the summer has enjoyed a remarkable return to prominence and to form. He netted the winner last week and was dominant here. His serenity on the ball and ability to play a range of passes were valuable for the Principality club.
Sadibou Sané – 7
Vanderson – 5
Lamine Camara – 9
Whilst Brunner may have netted one of the goals of the Ligue 1 season, it was Camara who stole the show with his all-action performance. He was absolutely everywhere: winning duels, gaining metres, and covering spaces. If this is to be his last dance in a Monaco shirt, he will be sorely missed on this showing, perhaps his greatest for the Principality club.
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Denis Zakaria – 6
Stanis Idumbo – 5
Aleksandr Golovin – 5
Mamadou Coulibaly – 4
Paris Brunner – 8
Folarin Balogun watched on as his prospective replacement lit up the Stade Louis II. Balogun was excellent with his back to goal last season and was clinical in front of it; Brunner replicated that on a night when he really announced himself as one of Ligue 1’s prospects to watch this season.
Marseille player ratings
Jeffrey De Lange – 4
Emerson – 5
CJ Egan-Riley – 3
Geoffrey Kondogbia – 2
The veteran defender was humbled by Brunner, who absolutely dominated his one-on-one battle, which reached its crescendo just after half-time when Brunner turned him and sat him down on Monaco’s second goal. Judging by OM fans’ reaction, they want him gone.
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Timothy Weah – 6
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – 4
Angel Gomes – 5
Quinten Timber – 4
Replaced by Tochukwu Nnadi (N/A). The midfielder, injured, did not complete the match.
Himad Abdelli – 3
Replaced by Keylian Abdallah (4).
Amine Gouiri – 4
There is too great an expectation for Gouiri to compensate for what OM have lost in attack over the summer. He struggled tonight. He simply wasn’t in the game, even as he dropped deeper and deeper to try and play a more prominent role. He had one half chance, but didn’t take it. He came up against two centre-backs in Sadibou Sané and Dier, who had strong matches.
Amine Harit – 3
Given a second chance due to OM’s dire financial situation, he didn’t show himself to be worthy of one. The playmaker never got into this game.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle – reporting from Monaco
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