Emmanuel Riviere hat-trick gives Monaco win

Monaco claimed all three points in Ligue 1 this afternoon by convincingly beating Montpellier 4-1 at home.

The hosts had a chance after just five minutes when Emmanuel Riviere latched onto a long ball from Jeremy Toulalan, but the goalkeeper kept it out at the near post.

Ricardo Carvalho should have made it 1-0 four minutes later with a free header from a corner, but the defender skewed his effort wide.

Monaco then had the chance to go in front when Siaka Tiene brought down Lucas Ocampos to give the home side a penalty.

Falcao stepped up and made no mistake, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to make it 1-0 on 18 minutes.

Montpellier equalised just five minutes later through Victor Montano, who got across the defender and headed home to make it 1-1.

Monaco took the lead just before half time when Riviere raced through and lobbed the goalkeeper.

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The home side increased their advantage 10 minutes into the second half when Riviere grabbed his second, bundling over the line from a Toulalan corner to make it 3-1.

Montpellier were reduced to 10 men on 60 minutes when Daniel Congre saw red for pulling down Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco just outside the area.

Monaco added a fourth on 80 minutes when Riviere completed his hat-trick, nodding home a deflected Ferreira-Carrasco shot.