CHAPTER 79: AEK DOMINACE - FIRST HALF

"Are you ready to show them what you can do?" Giuly asked Adebayor as they lined up in the tunnel.

The young striker nodded, bouncing lightly on his toes as nervous energy coursed through him. Around them, the sounds of 18,000 Monaco supporters filtered through the concrete walls, their voices creating waves of anticipation that pulsed through the stadium.

Opposite them stood the AEK Athens players, their blue shirts contrasting sharply with the tunnel’s white walls. Their faces reflected a mix of resignation and professional determination; the mathematical elimination from European competition had lifted some pressure, yet they remained proud to represent their club on this stage.

Yves observed near the tunnel entrance, noting the relaxed energy surrounding his rotated squad. Givet adjusted his captain’s armband for the evening, marking the young defender’s first time leading Monaco in European competition. They had different faces, but the same principles had brought them this far.

The referee signaled their emergence, and both teams began their walk toward the pitch. The Stade Louis II erupted as Monaco appeared, and red and white banners created vibrant rivers throughout the stands. European nights at home held a special magic that domestic fixtures could never replicate.

Adebayor’s eyes widened as they reached the pitch, the atmosphere washing over him in waves. His previous European appearance had been as a substitute; this was his full debut on the continent’s biggest stage. The weight of opportunity mingled with excitement in his youthful features.

Monaco’s formation showed apparent rotation from recent matches. Plašil anchored the midfield alongside Bernardi, while D’Alessandro operated in his familiar creative role. The system remained consistent despite personnel changes, with tactical understanding transcending individual selections.

AEK’s setup revealed defensive intentions—five at the back, a compact midfield, and a single striker poised to exploit counter-attacking opportunities. Their coach understood the mathematical reality of their situation while maintaining competitive dignity through organized resistance.

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CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP B MATCHDAY 6AS MONACO vs AEK ATHENSStade Louis II, MonacoDecember 10, 2003

The opening whistle unleashed immediate drama as Monaco pressed forward with patient passing, but AEK responded with brutal directness. Katsouranis spotted D’Alessandro receiving the ball with his back turned and timed his approach perfectly, launching into a crunching tackle that sent the Argentine sprawling across the turf.

The contact was bone-jarring, studs raking down D’Alessandro’s shin as he tumbled forward, grass stains marking his white socks. Referee Urs Meier’s whistle pierced the stadium atmosphere as he immediately reached for the yellow card, issuing the caution before D’Alessandro had even stopped rolling.

"Get up!" Plašil shouted in Czech, extending his hand to help his teammate. D’Alessandro dusted off his shorts and tested his weight on the challenged leg before nodding that he could continue. The early foul set the tactical tone—AEK intended to make this a physical match from the start.

Monaco’s free-kick was twenty-eight yards from the goal, slightly right of center. Alonso stood over the ball, his routine precise—three steps back, a deep breath, and eyes scanning the penalty area for movement. Instead of shooting, he played it short to Rothen, who had drifted from his left-wing position to create space.

Rothen’s first touch killed the ball as he looked up to assess his options. Adebayor was making his run toward the near post, dragging Amponsah with him, while Givet overlapped down the right touchline. The winger chose the aerial route, his left foot swinging through the cross perfectly.

But the execution failed. The ball sailed over everyone—too high for Adebayor’s leap and too wide for any Monaco player to reach. It bounced once before rolling harmlessly over the goal line for a goal kick, with Chiotis jogging casually to retrieve it while shaking his head at the wasted opportunity.

AEK’s response was immediate and direct. Chiotis’s goal kick was struck with purpose, a booming clearance that traveled fifty yards through the air before Liberopoulos jumped to contest it with Squillaci. The Greek striker was strong, using his body to shield the ball as it dropped, his first touch cushioning it perfectly onto his right foot.

Liberopoulos turned sharply, his low center of gravity allowing him to pivot away from Squillaci’s challenge. Two quick touches took him toward Monaco’s penalty area, but the center-back recovered well, sliding across to block the striker’s path without committing to a tackle.

The ball broke loose to Lakis, who was positioned twenty-five yards from goal in a central position. The midfielder’s eyes lit up as he saw the opportunity, and his right foot swung back for the shot before his mind fully processed the angles.

The strike was pure power—his boot connected with the ball’s sweet spot, rocketing toward Roma’s goal. But Lakis sacrificed accuracy for force. The ball sailed high over the crossbar, disappearing into the crowd behind the goal, where Monaco supporters ducked for cover.

Roma watched the ball soar through the air, arms folded, a hint of amusement playing on his face at the ambitious attempt. The Italian keeper pointed to where the ball had landed, offering a theatrical shrug that elicited chuckles from nearby spectators.

Monaco’s first meaningful attack unfolded in the sixth minute, showcasing their tactical prowess through patient buildup. Bernardi received the ball in his own half, immediately lifting his head to scan for options. He spotted Plašil making a run into space, the Czech midfielder dropping deeper to provide an easy passing option.

Plašil’s first touch was precise. He controlled the ball with his right foot before swiftly switching it to Givet on the right flank. The young defender seized the opportunity to advance, his speed allowing him to glide past Kyriakos’s half-hearted challenge as the Greek defender backpedaled without conviction.

Givet delivered a cross with pinpoint accuracy—a curling ball that arced away from Chiotis before dipping toward the near post, where Adebayor had timed his run perfectly. The striker rose to meet the ball at the peak of his jump, his timing impeccable.

However, the header lacked conviction. Adebayor’s neck muscles failed to snap through the contact, resulting in a weak effort that sailed straight into Chiotis’s grateful arms. The goalkeeper gathered the ball at chest height, perfectly positioned despite the quality of the cross.

"Better!" D’Alessandro called out, clapping his hands together. "The movement was perfect; we need more power on the finish!"

AEK nearly stunned everyone in the eleventh minute due to a defensive error that could have changed the match’s dynamics entirely. Givet attempted to play out from the back, but his pass to Plašil was under-hit and lacked conviction. Liberopoulos quickly recognized the danger, his anticipation allowing him to intercept the ball just fifteen yards from Monaco’s goal.

The striker’s first touch was exquisite—he controlled it with his left foot before seamlessly shifting to his right, creating an angle for a shot in one fluid motion. He struck the ball with venom toward the bottom right corner, sending it hurtling toward what seemed like a specific goal.

Roma’s reaction was instinctive. The Italian keeper launched himself to his right, fingertips grazing the ball just before it crossed the line. The contact was minimal but crucial—enough to deflect the shot onto the post, where it bounced back into play.

The rebound fell perfectly for Rusev, who had followed up the original shot with intelligent movement. Just eight yards from goal, with Roma still on the ground, the Bulgarian midfielder seemed destined to score from such close range.

But Squillaci had other ideas. The center-back threw himself into the path of Rusev’s shot, the ball ricocheting off his chest before bouncing clear. The impact knocked the wind from his lungs, but his commitment averted the inevitable disaster for Monaco’s European ambitions.

Monaco’s response to the scare was swift and impactful. Plašil, stung by his earlier mistake, regained possession with a perfectly timed tackle on Petkov. The Czech midfielder executed a clean yet aggressive sliding challenge, winning the ball without fouling and immediately springing to his feet.

His first pass found D’Alessandro in space between AEK’s defensive lines. The Argentine’s touch was magical. He controlled a slightly overhit pass with the outside of his right foot before effortlessly turning away from two converging defenders.

D’Alessandro’s keen vision spotted Adebayor’s run before the striker began it. The through ball was perfectly weighted, splitting AEK’s central defenders and finding the young striker behind their defensive line, with only Chiotis to beat.

Adebayor’s first touch carried him wide of the advancing goalkeeper, the ball rolling smoothly into his stride as he approached the edge of the penalty area. Chiotis committed to his dive early, leaving the goal wide open as the striker prepared for his finish.

The shot was placed rather than powered—a side-footed effort that rolled along the ground toward the far corner of the goal. Chiotis’s desperate scramble was in vain; the ball nestled in the net, and AEK’s defenders could only watch in despair.

1-0 to Monaco.

Adebayor’s celebration was pure emotion—arms spread wide as he sprinted toward the corner flag, his face radiating joy and relief. Teammates surrounded him within seconds, their congratulations heartfelt as they recognized the significance of his European breakthrough.

AEK’s restart was frantic and disorganized. Liberopoulos attempted an ambitious shot from inside the center circle, hoping to catch Roma off his line. The effort was cleanly struck but lacked power and accuracy, rolling harmlessly wide of the post as the goalkeeper watched with bemused interest.

The second goal developed slowly through Monaco’s patient possession, each pass designed to draw AEK’s defensive block out of position. Evra collected the ball on the left touchline, his first touch taking him past Kasapis’s weak challenge before advancing toward the penalty area.

A sliding defender blocked Evra’s cross, but the ball ricocheted back to Rothen, who had drifted inside from his wide position. Rothen’s first touch was impeccable, setting up a shot from the edge of the penalty area.

His finish was precise rather than powerful—a curling effort that bent away from Chiotis’s dive and nestled in the bottom corner. The goalkeeper’s positioning was correct, but the placement was too good, finding the only spot his reach couldn’t extend to.

2-0.

Chiotis slammed his fist against the turf in frustration, knowing he could have done better despite the quality of the shot. The save was within reach, but Rothen’s flawless technique found the corner.

AEK’s response bordered on desperation as they pushed more players forward. Katsouranis attempted a speculative shot from thirty yards, sending the ball well wide of Roma’s goal. The attempt drew groans from the traveling supporters, who recognized that their team needed quality over ambition.

But Monaco was just getting started. The third goal came through Adebayor’s growing influence, as his movement between AEK’s center-backs created confusion that D’Alessandro exploited with his characteristic vision.

The Argentine’s pass was perfectly weighted, bisecting the defensive line to find Adebayor in acres of space. This time, the young striker showed no hesitation—his finish was authoritative, striking the bottom corner and leaving Chiotis with no chance despite his correct positioning.

3-0.

The stadium erupted as Monaco’s supporters realized they were witnessing something special. Adebayor’s development was accelerating before their eyes, as raw talent was being shaped by European competition into genuine achievement.

After the third goal, AEK’s confidence visibly crumbled. Rusev attempted another long-range shot that sailed several yards over the crossbar, while Liberopoulos was caught offside twice in quick succession as desperation replaced tactical discipline.

The fourth goal felt inevitable when it arrived in the thirty-sixth minute. Bernardi’s tackle in midfield initiated another flowing move, his pass finding Evra overlapping down the left flank with purpose and pace.

The fullback’s cross was delivered with whip and precision toward the penalty area, where bodies converged in a jumble of red and blue shirts. Givet rose highest, defying his defensive origins, and his header struck with power and conviction.

Chiotis had no chance—the ball rocketed past his dive into the roof of the net, the power too great for even perfect positioning to prevent. Leadership was demonstrated through performance, not just by wearing the armband.

4-0.

By halftime, Monaco’s dominance was complete. AEK managed one final effort through Liberopoulos, whose shot from twenty yards was gathered comfortably by Roma at the second attempt, but their resistance had been thoroughly broken.

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HALFTIME: AS MONACO 4-0 AEK ATHENSAdebayor 16’, 31’; Rothen 24’; Givet 36’

In Monaco’s dressing room, the atmosphere blended professional satisfaction with quiet confidence. The players knew they had performed excellently, but forty-five minutes remained to solidify a statement that would resonate throughout European competition.

"Same intensity," Yves addressed the squad. "They will try different approaches. Stay focused and stay clinical."

Adebayor sat, processing his European breakthrough. His confidence radiated in every gesture as teammates congratulated him on a performance that had announced his arrival on football’s biggest stage.