AS Monaco warmed up for their Champions League showdown against Arsenal with a comfortable 3-0 victory over nine-man Bastia in Ligue 1 this evening.
Anthony Martial and Matheus Carvalho goals either side of Drissa Diakite's red card put the principality outfit in full control by half time at the Stade Louis II.
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Manager Leonardo Jardim had already rested four key players with Tuesday's visit of the Gunners in mind, and the remainder of his squad were able to ease up following Martial's strike early in the second half.
The French forward was leading the line in the absence of Dimitar Berbatov, a scorer as Monaco won 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium a fortnight ago, and put his side ahead on 22 minutes when he converted Nabil Dirar's cross.
Layvin Kurzawa squandered a golden chance to double their advantage when his penalty was saved by Alphonse Areola, after the dismissed Diakite had been adjudged to deny Matheus a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The Brazilian was again involved as the hosts got a second two minutes prior to the break, tapping in from close range following another smart pick out from Dirar, and capped a good performance with a second-half assist.
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His pass allowed Martial to score Monaco's third goal of the game from inside the six-yard box and, although the hosts took their foot off the gas, they could have extended their lead further through Martial or Joao Moutinho.
Bastia had previously only lost once in 16 outings, with their latest win coming against nine-man Nice last weekend, but it was they who were to finish two players short tonight as Giovanni Sio saw red for a lunge on Kurzawa.
The result takes Monaco to within three points of third-placed Marseille in the table, while Bastia remain 10th.
Joe Fish
