AS Monaco dominated for long spells against Girondins de Bordeaux, but Jimmy Briand struck to cancel out Radamel Falcao’s opener, denying the principality side their third win in four games.
AS Monaco 1-1 Girondins de Bordeaux 
THE MATCH
Monaco have been resurgent since Leonardo Jardim returned for his second spell as coach in January, pulling six points clear of the relegation zone by kick-off, and they started brightly. Aleksandr Golovin was orchestrator-in-chief in the first half, crossing for Falcao, who’s header was collected by Benoît Costil early on (2′). The Russian then forced a save from the Bordeaux ‘keeper with a left-footed shot from the edge of the box (3′). Bordeaux – with new coach Paulo Sousa watching on from the stands – had a pair of chances midway through the half. Younousse Sankharé tried his luck from range (14′) before Nicolas de Préville met Jimmy Briand’s cross with a powerful header (25′), but both times Costil’s opposite number Danijel Subasic repelled the danger. The hosts finished the half the stronger side, though, and could have carried a lead into the interval had Rony Lopes’ shot from a tight angle not fizzed the wrong side of the post (41′).
Vinicius denied
Monaco pulled in front a few minutes after the restart, though, Fodé Ballo-Touré crossing for Falcao who headed home a fine header for his team-high 12th of the campaign (48′), but Bordeaux, to their credit, refused to let their heads go down and continued to attack. De Préville span a free-kick towards Jules Koundé who headed narrowly off-target (55′) before a Costil save from Lopes kept Les Girondins in the game (56′). Falcao then handballed in the Monaco area leaving referee François Letexier with little choice but to point to the spot, and Briand stepped up to smash home the equaliser (65′). Bordeaux could even have pulled in front minutes later when de Préville put the ball on a plate for Yann Karamoh, but the Inter Milan-owned forward missed with the goal at his mercy (67′). Vinicius entered replaced Lopes for the final 20 minutes (70′) and forced a good save from Costil after Cesc Fabregas had teed him up (73′). The forward, on loan from Napoli, even had the ball in the net late on, but what might have been his maiden Monaco strike was ruled out for offside (86′) and it ended 1-1.
THE PLAYER: Benoît Costil
This would almost certainly have been a defeat for Bordeaux if not for their captain, Costil. The former Stade Rennais FC man made 11 saves, three of them crucial. Bordeaux may be 13th in the league, but that only five teams have conceded fewer is thanks in large part to the France international.
THE STAT: 6
Monaco have now gone six matches without defeat. Whilst all three points would have been preferred, Thierry’s Henry’s ill-fated reign as coach is already fading into distant memory. Les Rouges et Blancs last went five games without defeat from May to August last year, before Jardim’s first spell in the dugout was cut short.
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