Having dropped into the Ligue 1 relegation zone after a dismal run of just one win from their last 13 top-flight outings (D5, L7), Nantes manager Antoine Kombouare urged his side to “show that we can compete.”
Those words had the desired effect early on against Monaco, with the hosts taking a deserved lead in the 12th minute as Sorba Thomas’ delivery found Matthis Abline, who confidently finished into the bottom corner from 12 yards.
Undeterred by that shock setback, Adi Hutter’s men grew into the contest as the first half progressed and Lamine Camara came close to an equaliser when his strike from range was smartly saved by Anthony Lopes.
Chances continued to arrive at both ends of the pitch in a closely fought opening period, with Breel Embolo spurning a glorious opportunity for the visitors, powering a header wastefully wide when well-placed in the box.
Grateful for that reprieve before half-time, Nantes doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart as Kelvin Amian lashed home at the near post following another superb cross from Thomas.
The hosts’ two-goal advantage lasted just five minutes though, with Monaco immediately halving the deficit through Embolo, who made amends for his earlier miss by sweeping a clinical finish beyond Lopes.
That proved to be the final moment of note in the closing stages as Nantes missed the opportunity to register back-to-back home wins for the first time since October 2023.
As for Monaco, their hopes of a title challenge look to be hanging on by a thread after a third successive league match without a win (D2, L1).