Match ends, Monaco 3, Nantes 1.
MonacoMonaco3NantesNantes1
Colombia midfielder James Rodriguez inspired Monaco as they beat lowly Nantes at Stade Louis II to keep their slim French title hopes alive.
Rodriguez drilled in a delightful left-foot shot to put Claudio Ranieri's side ahead, before his corner was headed in by Andrea Raggi from 12 yards.
Rodriguez, 22, who joined Monaco for £38.5m last summer, then fired in the third from the penalty spot.
USA midfielder Alejandro Bedoya headed in a late consolation for the visitors.
Monaco are 13 points adrift of leaders Paris St-Germain, who won 3-0 against Reims on Saturday, with six games left.
The principality side moved six clear of third-placed Lille, with the top two automatically qualifying for the Champions League group phase next season.
Line-ups
Monaco
Formation 4-1-2-1-2
- 1Subasic
- 2Fabinho
- 24RaggiBooked at 73mins
- 28Toulalan
- 6Carvalho
- 22Abidal
- 8João MoutinhoBooked at 62mins
- 10Rodríguez
- 18GermainSubstituted forOcamposat 73'minutes
- 15BerbatovSubstituted forRivièreat 64'minutes
- 19ObbadiSubstituted forKondogbiaat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Abdennour
- 7Dirar
- 11Ocampos
- 16Romero
- 17Ferreira-Carrasco
- 27Kondogbia
- 29Rivière
Nantes
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 30DupéBooked at 76mins
- 22CissokhoBooked at 60mins
- 5Veigneau
- 18Deaux
- 26DjidjiBooked at 71mins
- 4Vizcarrondo
- 15NicolitaSubstituted forPancrateat 87'minutes
- 12ToureSubstituted forVeretoutat 66'minutes
- 23Shechter
- 19Bedoya
- 13GakpeSubstituted forAudelat 64'minutes
Substitutes
- 7Pancrate
- 11Bangoura
- 16Zelazny
- 21Audel
- 24Alhadhur
- 25Veretout
- 33Toure
- Referee:
- Benoit Millot
Match Stats
Home TeamMonacoAway TeamNantes
- Possession
- Home62%
- Away38%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away12
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away4
- Corners
- Home7
- Away8
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away16
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Monaco 3, Nantes 1.
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Ricardo Carvalho (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Fabrice Pancrate (Nantes).
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Corner, Monaco. Conceded by Oswaldo Vizcarrondo.
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Foul by Jérémy Toulalan (Monaco).
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Fabrice Pancrate (Nantes) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Lucas Ocampos (Monaco) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Foul by Olivier Veigneau (Nantes).
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Attempt missed. James Rodríguez (Monaco) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Emmanuel Rivière.
Substitution
Substitution, Nantes. Fabrice Pancrate replaces Banel Nicolita.
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Corner, Nantes. Conceded by Jérémy Toulalan.
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Attempt blocked. Johan Audel (Nantes) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Geoffrey Kondogbia (Monaco).
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Jordan Veretout (Nantes) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Andrea Raggi (Monaco) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Banel Nicolita (Nantes).
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Ricardo Carvalho (Monaco) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes).
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Foul by Geoffrey Kondogbia (Monaco).
