With Radamel Falcao left out of their side, AS Monaco continued their stuttering start to the Ligue 1 season on Saturday as they drew 1-1 with LOSC Lille Metropole at the Stade Louis II.
The day started in chaotic fashion for Monaco as Falcao, who had been named in the squad, was withdrawn from the matchday list at the last minute amid increasing speculation that he will leave the principality before the summer transfer window slams shut today.
Falcao’s replacement in the starting lineup was Dimitar Berbatov and the Bulgarian earned his side a point with a 61st-minute equalizer to cancel out Nolan Roux’s first-half opener for the visitors.
Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim’s side were unable to find a winner and have managed just one victory, and four points, from the first month of the new campaign.
Lille, in contrast, will be satisfied with a result that maintains their unbeaten start to the domestic season and gets them back on track after their midweek Champions League playoff exit at the hands of FC Porto in Portugal.
The Colombian, linked to Real Madrid and Manchester City, was in attendance, and he sat in a Monaco club suit in the stand next to his agent, Jorge Mendes, and club vice president Vadim Vasilyev.
Later on Saturday, Stade Rennais moved up to provisional fifth with a 1-0 win against Stade Malherbe Caen thanks to a late penalty from Swedish striker Ola Toivonen, while Lorient hammered En Avant de Guingamp 4-0 in a Brittany derby with young forward Valentin Lavigne coming off the bench to score twice.
Serge Gakpe’s late strike secured a 1-0 victory for Nantes against Montpellier Herault and Adrien Regattin’s counter gave Toulouse a 1-0 success against ten-man Evian Thonon Gaillard, who are bottom of the table.
Promoted Racing Club de Lens came from behind to beat Stade de Reims 4-2 and record their second successive win, while Olympique de Marseille hammered OGC Nice 4-0 on Friday, with Dimitri Payet scoring twice.
Early leaders Girondins de Bordeaux were to host SC Bastia yesterday before champions Paris Saint-Germain face AS Saint-Etienne at the Parc des Princes.
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