Match Analysis: AS Monaco 1-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Monaco defeated Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 at the Stade Louis II this evening to get their first Champions League campaign in almost a decade off to a winning start.

Joao Moutinho scored the only goal of the match in the second period, after Gonzalo Castro, Karim Bellarabi and Son Heung-Min blew golden opportunities to put the visitors in front.

Here, Sports Mole takes a closer look over the 90 minutes to establish whether 1-0 was a fair result.

Match statistics

MONACO Shots: 4 On target: 1 Possession: 48% Corners: 3 Fouls: 16

LEVERKUSEN Shots: 13 On target: 2 Possession: 52% Corners: 3 Fouls: 19

Was the result fair?

Overall, Bayern Leverkusen should have taken something from the match considering they could quite easily have been 3-0 up by half time, yet Monaco deserve credit for their second-half display. The hosts may have struggled to create chances, but Moutinho buried one when it counted, which is more than we can say for any of Roger Schmidt's men.

Monaco's performance

The Ligue 1 outfit were poor all round in the first half. They were outclassed in midfield, outpaced at the back and non-existent going forward, remaining in the match by virtue of Leverkusen's lacklustre finishing alone. However, they were far more solid in the second period, with Geoffrey Kondogbia and Moutinho ruling the midfield and Layvin Kurzawa looking deadly along the left flank. Leonardo Jardim must have delivered one hell of a half-time team talk.

Leverkusen's performance

The Germans outclassed the opposition in the first half, but their finishing was nothing short of woeful. Gonzalo Castro, Karim Bellarabi and Son Heung-Min's first-half misses were the kind of howlers you wouldn't expect to see in Sunday league, let alone the Champions League. Leverkusen were severely punished for their wastefulness in front of goal, and have only themselves to blame for the losing start to their European campaign.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Layvin Kurzawa: Even when Monaco were below par, Kurzawa still looked capable of delivering that moment of magic that might have reversed their fortunes. The wing-back was involved in every positive piece of play his side mustered and ran himself ragged during the 90 minutes.

Biggest gaffe

Karim Bellarabi faces stiff competition for this prize from his teammates who also missed sitters tonight, but the winger's failure to hit the target with only the goalkeeper to beat really took the biscuit.

Referee performance

Pavel Kralovec had his work cut out overseeing what was an ill-tempered game, and there is perhaps a case to argue that he was somewhat lenient with those yellow cards, but none of his decisions had a bearing on the outcome of the match.

What next?

Monaco: Jardim's side play host to Guingamp in Ligue 1, hoping that this evening's result will help kickstart their domestic season.

Leverkusen: The Germans will be hoping to maintain their position at the top of the Bundesliga when they visit Wolfsburg.