AS Monaco welcomed Lorient to the Stade Louis II on Sunday knowing that they would move back to the top of Ligue 1 with a win.
The Monte Carlo outfit were unbeaten heading into the clash and came up against a Les Merlus that would move closer to the Champions League places with a victory.
However, Falcao fired Monaco back to the head of the table with an early spot kick.
Read how the action unfolded in our live commentary below.
Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage from Stade Louis II where AS Monaco host Lorient.
Today is a massive match for Monaco. PSG and Saint-Etienne both moved to the top of Ligue 1 with wins on Friday and Saturday respectively, but Monaco can put themselves to the head of the division once more with a triumph this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Lorient have enjoyed a decent start to the season, and could move fifth with a win today. They currently occupy 12th in Ligue 1.
With kick off less than 15 minutes away, let's bring you the team news.
MONACO XI: Subasic, Fabinho, Carvalho, Abidal, Kurzawa, Kondogbia, Obbadi, Ocampos, Moutinho, Carrasco, Falcao
So manager Claudio Ranieri hands Geoffrey Kondogbia a debut, having completed his £17m-transfer from Sevilla late in the transfer window. Top scorer, and the man who found the winning goal in Monaco's last match, Emmanuel Riviere again finds himself among the substitutes.
Joao Moutinho starts having fully recovered from his hamstring injury, but James Rodriguez, who has been struggling with fitness as of late, is on the bench.
MONACO BENCH: Romero, Isimat-Mirin, Raggi, Tisserand, Pi, Rodriguez, Riviere
Time to bring you the Lorient team news.
LORIENT XI: Audard, Kone, Ecuele Manga, Bourillon, Guerreiro, Baca, Diallo, Jouffre, Barthelme, Aboubakar, Monnet, Paquet
Lorient, who have suffered defeats on both of their away trips so far this season, start with Paquet as the lone striker.
The teams are out at Stade Louis II. Kick off is just moments away.
KICKOFF! We are underway at Stade Louis II.
Joao Moutinho has the first chance of the game as Monaco are awarded a free kick on the edge of the box. The Portuguese midfielder steps up and curls the ball over the wall, but the shot is lacking power and drifts wide of the near post.
PENALTY TO MONACO!
Monaco have a chance to take the lead from the spot as Ocampos slide Falcao into the box. Audard comes off his line and clatters the striker to conceded the penalty and picks up a yellow card for his troubles.
GOAL! AS Monaco 1-0 Lorient (Radamel Falcao)
The Colombian makes no mistake from the spot, and sends Audard the wrong way with a simple side-foot into the corner.
Lorient have responded well with a fair amount of attacking possession, but they have been unable to take an effort at goal up to now.
CHANCE! Monaco nearly double their lead as Ocampos puts a brilliant cross into the area, but Carrasco couldn't find a finish.
It's been near enough all Monaco for this opening 14 minutes. They should have had a second by now.
It's a brilliant day weather-wise. Monaco are sporting their red and white home strip while Lorient are in all black.
A big scoreline looks possible at the moment. Monaco are all over Lorient, who simply cannot get the ball.
YELLOW CARD Kurzawa goes into the book for Monaco after a late challenge on Baca.
Lorient have the ball in the back of the net through Aboubakar, after he heads in a close from the left on the edge of the six-yard box. However, the linesman's flag is up for offside.
YELLOW CARD Carrasco goes into the book for a late challenge.
Lorient are starting to find their feet a bit more in this match, but there has been little in the way of chances for either side in this first half.
OFF THE POST! Monaco come a whisker away from doubling their lead as Fabinho surges down the right, shoving his marker in the process, before thumping a shot at goal on the corner of the box. However, his effort crashes off the post.
LORIENT CHANGE Sadio Diallo comes off injured, as Fabien Robert makes his way onto the field.
Jouffre hits a free kick from 25 yards out but can only find the wall. Apart from the disallowed goal, that's as close as Lorient have come.
Moutinho has an opportunity from the edge of the box, but spurns it high over the bar. Wasted chance there.
We'll have two minutes added time.
HALF TIME: AS Monaco 1-0 Lorient
So Monaco are ahead at the break, courtesy of Falcao's penalty. Other than that, there hasn't been too many chances, although Monaco have dictated the play.
The game is pretty open though, but Monaco should be further ahead. They have played some wonderful stuff.
Here are your half-time stats.
Match statistics:
AS Monaco:
Shots 7
On target 2
Possession 59%
Corners 1
Fouls 7
Lorient:
Shots 4
On target 0
Possession 41%
Corners 0
Fouls 8
The teams are back out onto the pitch, and Lorient are going to make a change.
Lamine Kone has been taken off at the break, and Raffidine Abdullah is on.
KICKOFF! Monaco get us back underway for the second half.
As things stand, Monaco are heading back to the top of Ligue 1.
Lorient have played some nice stuff at the start of this second half, but we've had no chances as of yet.
LORIENT CHANGE The visitors make their final change of the match as Gilles Sunu comes on in place of Paquet.
Falcao nearly finds a chance for Monaco after being played into the box by Moutinho. He skins the onrushing Audard, but is too slow to get a shot away on the right of the box and is tackled.
CLOSE! Lorient are fractions from an equalising as Abdullah plays a ball over the top to Aboubakar inside the box. The striker twists and turns but can't find a shooting opportunity. He pulls the ball back to Lourillion, who smashes a low shot just wide.
YELLOW CARD Abdullah is shown a yellow for a nasty, late tackle on Moutinho.
Riviere is coming on.
SAVE! Monaco come so close to doubling their lead. The ball breaks on the right of the box to Fabinho, who smashes a low effort across goal. Audard pulls off a wonderful reaction save to his right before the danger is cleared.
MONACO CHANGE Falcao, whose goal has been the difference in this match so far, makes way for top scorer Emmanuel Riviere.
It's been a quiet second half so far, with no real chances to report. Monaco have been on top in terms of possession.
MONACO CHANGE James Rodriguez enters the fray in place of Carrasco.
Free kick awarded to Monaco around 25 yards out. Moutinho and Rodriguez are over it.
It's Rodriguez who takes it, but he scuffs it along the floor and straight at Audard. Poor effort from the Monaco man.
This game has been poor overall. Nothing to update you with. Monaco with most of the ball, but haven't managed to create a single clear opportunity.
MONACO CHANGE Ocampos makes way for Tisserand.
We'll have three minutes of added time.
Tisserand makes a good run into the box and finds the feet of Riviere. He tries to turn and shoot but is blocked by Manga.
FULL TIME: AS Monaco 1-0 Lorient
Well that's it. A largely uneventful game comes to an end after being settled in the sixth minute by a Radamel Falcao penalty.
Monaco return to the top of Ligue 1, but will have to play far better if they are to beat Paris Saint-Germain next Sunday.
I'll be back for Lille vs. Nice from 3.30pm, so until then, goodbye.
Written by
Matt Cotton
Matt Cotton
