A Mika Biereth (22) hat-trick was the major driving force behind an emphatic 7-1 Monaco victory over 10-man FC Nantes at Stade Louis II. The result also means Nantes have now won just one of their last eight matches overall (D4, L3).

Monaco came into this game looking to bounce back after an agonising week, which had seen them lose 4-1 to table-topping Paris Saint-Germain before falling to a 1-0 defeat (to Benfica) in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League knockout playoff.

However, Adi Hutter’s side got off to the worst possible start, conceding inside the opening four minutes.

Matthis Abline was the man who opened the scoring, after the forward fired Moses Simon’s cutback into the bottom-left corner.

The hosts were handed a lifeline just four minutes later though, when Nicolas Cozza was shown a straight red card for a bad foul on Vanderson.

The hosts duly turned the screw and went close after 18 minutes, but Maghnes Akliouche’s left-footed strike from inside the six-yard box forced a stunning save from Anthony Lopes.

However, the Red and Whites did eventually manage to bring themselves level on the brink of half-time with Biereth turning home Takumi Minamino’s pass from close range. 

And Hutter’s men completed a stunning turnaround before the break, as they fired in a second just two minutes later.

Minamino went from provider to goalscorer, with the Japanese international placing a beautiful right-footed finish into the left side of the goal.

After taking the lead late in the first half, Monaco came out for the second brimming with confidence.

And it took the home side just four minutes to double their lead when Eliesse Ben Seghir received the ball from Minamino before stabbing a low left-footed strike just inside the near post. 

The Red and Whites were enjoying themselves and went onto add a fourth five minutes later, as Biereth scored his second of the game, with the Dane reacting fastest to a loose ball in the penalty to fire home.

Biereth went on to complete his hat trick with 25 minutes left to play, with the Dane firing home from the penalty spot after Nicolas Pallois was ruled to have fouled the forward.

Hutter’s side weren’t done there though, adding more goals as the game approached the closing stages.

Substitute George Ilenikhena added to Nantes’ misery with a late brace, heading into the bottom-right corner from close-range via Caio Henrique’s cross and firing in from Al Musrati's ball with the final play of the evening, adding extra panache as Monaco cruised back into the top-three.

Meanwhile, Nantes continue to float around the relegation zone, now just three points above the relegation playoff position.

Flashscore Man of the Match: Mika Biereth (AS Monaco)

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