AS Monaco have played five competitive matches on the season so far; Chelsea loanee Mario Pasalic has started four of them. In those 271 minutes, he's scored 2 goals already. Yes, one of his idols is Frank Lampard.
Chelsea, meanwhile, have played three (and a half, if we count the Community Shield) competitive matches on the season so far; Monaco loanee Radamel Falcao has started none of them. In three substitute appearances, totaling 61 minutes, he's scored zero goals. it's probably fair to say that Monaco have gotten the better end of this deal so far.
Which, I suppose, is not the worst thing in the world. Pasalic getting minutes is the entire point of his loan. And if either of these guys are to have a long-term Chelsea future ... well, it's probably Pasalic who has a greater shot at that. And I say that despite our general inability to properly integrate loan-stars not named Thibaut Courtois.
Three of Pasalic's four starts have come in the Champions League, as have both of his goals. Today's start, goal, and good performance in general was quite timely, considering he was filling in for the injured Joao Moutinho. Pasalic did start Monaco's first Ligue 1 match of the season, but was substituted off just 25 minutes into the game. He went an unused substitute over the weekend. With Moutinho expected out for around six weeks, Pasalic's time to step up and truly shine is now (and hopefully help Monaco to better results than Wednesday's 3-1 loss to Valencia).