Monaco Dominates Reims as Unstoppable Mika Biereth Nets Another Hat-Trick

January recruit Mika Biereth continues to impress, scoring his third consecutive hat-trick at home and boosting his tally to 10 goals in just seven Ligue 1 appearances, as he led AS Monaco to a 3-0 triumph over a struggling Stade de Reims.

Reims entered the match without a win in their last 12 outings and had faced defeat in four straight games. Yet, the team managed to pull off another surprise in the Coupe de France, securing a penalty shootout victory over Angers SCO, mirroring their earlier success against Monaco.

The news of reaching the semi-finals seemed to invigorate their Japanese attacking duo. Keito Nakamura set up Junya Itō for a shot on goal, but Itō’s effort was halted by a desperate challenge from Thilo Kehrer.

Since joining from SK Sturm Graz in early January, Biereth has emerged as a fan favourite, scoring an impressive seven goals in his first three appearances at Stade Louis II. After narrowly missing a chance moments prior, he showcased his finishing skills by volleying home from a cross by Caio Henrique.

Biereth could have completed his hat-trick in the first half when he seized a ball in the box and calmly slotted in for his second goal, yet he uncharacteristically missed a simpler chance from mere yards out shortly after.

Substitute Oumar Diakité came on at half-time, but this change backfired quickly, as Biereth capitalised on a rebound from Breel Embolo’s shot that was only parried by the Reims goalkeeper.

Manager Adi Hütter will be excited to realise that he may have discovered one of the brightest talents in Europe, as the Dane once again walked away with the match ball.

As the match progressed, Monaco maintained control in a second half that saw limited chances, ultimately securing a comfortable victory against a Reims team clearly low on confidence.

This win lifts Monaco to fourth place in the standings, with Reims remaining winless in five matches and sitting in 15th place, just three points clear of AS Saint-Étienne, who could narrow the gap this weekend.

Check out the match summary here