8.9 and Two Goals: Mokrani Runs the Show for Monaco
Merouane Mokrani scored twice and made another as AS Monaco swept RC Lens aside 4-0 in Ligue 1 Uber Eats.
How do you turn a 4-0 win into a one-man show? Merouane Mokrani supplied the answer, driving AS Monaco past RC Lens with two goals, an assist and an 8.9 match rating on Monday.
The Frenchman was Monaco’s spark and their finisher: seven shots, four on target, six dribbles and three key passes across 90 minutes. Lens had little room to breathe as the hosts held 59 per cent possession and fired 19 shots, ten on target. Mokrani was at the heart of the noise, making the difference whenever the match needed a jolt.
His performance earned him player of the match, but the numbers only sketch the picture: a defender facing another direct run, a crowd rising with each burst, and Lens unable to turn resistance into a foothold. The visitors managed five shots, with only two on target. Monaco’s win was emphatic; Mokrani made it feel personal.
Gruff French also scored for Monaco, while Josh Manning came off the bench to add a goal. Manning arrived from Hertha Berlin for £4.1m this month; Ido Hayat, signed from Olympique Lyonnais for £1.9m, followed on Saturday. The new faces are finding a side with plenty of bite, but Mokrani owned this match.
There was a familiar thread on the other side, too: Enzo Marin now wears Monaco colours after playing 83 times for Lens. On this night, though, the story belonged to Mokrani, who covered 14.3 kilometres and kept turning a commanding team display into his own show.