AS Monaco's Season Opener: Filipe Luís Faces Challenges
AS Monaco’s season starts on the road and under a new voice on the touchline.
Filipe Luís takes charge of his first Ligue 1 match with the Principality club on a tricky trip to Le Havre AC, just days after his side were dragged through a demanding European night.
On Thursday, Monaco edged Górnik Zabrze 3-2 in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff. It was open, frantic, and full of warning signs about fatigue and rhythm. Now comes the domestic test, with a squad already stretched before a ball has even been kicked in Ligue 1.
Luís’ options already under strain
The new manager walks into this opener with a list of absentees that would trouble a coach mid-season, let alone on matchday one.
Christian Mawissa is suspended. Jordan Teze, Ansu Fati and summer recruit Mattias Abline are all sidelined through injury. Takumi Minamino and Folarin Balogun, both central to Monaco’s attacking threat, have been left out of the squad to be rested after Thursday’s European exertions.
So Luís turns to the fresh faces.
Manchester City loanee Mathys Detourbet is in line for a second straight start after making his debut in the Conference League win. Alongside him, Sadibou Sané, the centre-back brought in from Metz, is also expected to keep his place after stepping into the European tie.
On the left, Flávio Nazinho is set for his first competitive start in Monaco colours. The full-back, signed from Cercle Brugge, moves straight into a side that will need his energy on both sides of the ball if Monaco are to manage the physical toll of a Thursday–Sunday turnaround.
The likely XI: new look, familiar ambition
Despite the absences, the projected line-up still carries experience and quality.
Monaco are expected to start with: Lukas Hradecky; Flávio Nazinho, Eric Dier, Sadibou Sané, Vanderson; Mathys Detourbet, Lamine Camara, Denis Zakaria, Mamadou Coulibaly; Mika Biereth, Aleksandr Golovin.
It is a team that blends established names like Golovin, Zakaria and Vanderson with players trying to plant a flag in this new era.
A new coach, a patched-together squad, and an away day to open the campaign: Monaco’s season doesn’t ease them in. It asks a question straight away—how quickly can Filipe Luís make this team his?
