UCL: AS Monaco: 1 Beşiktaş: 2

Beşiktaş continue their impressive run in Europe after a third successive victory in the Champions League group stages. The Black Eagles came away with a 2-1 victory at the Stade Louis II in Monaco.

Beşiktaş were the first to strike at the Stade Louis II, but Ryan Babel’s 7th minute goal was uncorrectly disallowed for offside. At the other end of the pitch Beşiktaş were lucky to still remain with 11 men when Pepe was forced to make a foul in an arguably last man position, however the experienced Portuguese got away with a yellow card.

Beşiktaş seemed to have everything under control in the opening half hour and had several opportunities through Babel and Atiba to open the screline. However, Radamel Falcao struck on the halfhour mark to make it 1-0 for the homeside.

It didn’t take the Black Eagles long to respond however. Ricardo Quaresma, who else? Provided the assist for Cenk Tosun’s equalizer just four minutes after the homeside’s opener.

With 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 games, Cenk Tosun is leading the chase to qualification from the group stages!

The halftime scoreline remained all square.

Beşiktaş started well to the second half and took the lead for the first time in this match when Tolgay Arslan’s shot came off the post and fell to Ryan Babel, the Dutchman squared it to Cenk Tosun for the easy finish: 1-2 in the 55th minute.

Monaco, who had just one point going in to this game, had to take more risks now as they couldn’t afford not to win tonight. But it were the Black Eagles who came close to a third on several occassions.

Beşiktaş failed to expand to their lead, but it didn’t impact the final result as the Black Eagles continue their perfect start to the group stages with another impressive away victory.

With Leipzig beating FC Porto 3-2 in the other match in the group, Beşiktaş are now firmly in the lead with the maximum of the points. Last season’s Champions League semi-finalists AS Monaco are surprisingly bottom of the table, with just one point.

If Beşiktaş beat Monaco at the Vodafone Park in two weeks time, they will qualify for the next round of the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history. Please note that this match will be played at 18:00 CET as opposed to the usual 20:45 CET.

Interesting facts:

• Beşiktaş are the first, and only, Turkish club to start a Champions League group campaign with 3 successive victories.
• Ricardo Quaresma has contributed to 9 goals in his 9 Champions League appearances for Beşiktaş (3 goals, 6 assists).
• Cenk Tosun has now scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in his current Champions League run.
• If Beşiktaş manage to beat Monaco again in two weeks time, they will guarantee themselves a place in the next round. Which would be the first time in their history.

Stadium: Stade Louis II

Referee: Milorad Mažić (SER)

AS Monaco XI: Danijel Subasic; Sidibe(79′ Gabriel Boschilia), Kamil Glik, Fabinho, Almamy Touré; Jemerson, João Moutinho, Youri Tielemans (57′ Rony Lopes); Thomas Lemar, Radamel Falcao, Keita Balde

Reserves: Benaglio, Jorge, Andrea Raggi, Meite, Rony Lopes, Gabriel Boschilia, Adama Diakhaby

Head coach: Leonardo Jardim

Beşiktaş XI: Fabri; Adriano Correia, Pepe, Dusko Tosic, Caner Erkin; Atiba Hutchinson, Tolgay Arslan (74′ Gary Medel), Anderson Talisca (74′ Oğuzhan Özyakup); Ricardo Quaresma, Cenk Tosun (89′ Álvaro Negredo), Ryan Babel

Reserves: Tolga Zengin, Gökhan Gönül, Matej Mitrovic, Gary Medel, Jeremain Lens, Oğuzhan Özyakup, Álvara Negredo

Head coach: Şenol Güneş

Goals: Radamel Falcao (30′), Cenk Tosun (34′, 55′)

Yellow cards: Pepe (16′), Tolgay (36′), Balde (49′),

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Kaan Bayazit

Editor-in-chief at Beşiktaş International

Freelance sports writer specialized in Turkish football and Beşiktaş. Co-host of the Black Eagles podcast. Frequently featured in World Soccer Digest Japan and many other international media outlets. Following Turkish football for close to two decades. Proud father to Aedin.

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