After a bit of rotation, AS Monaco begins its preseason with a win!
It was a victory to kick off the 2025-2026 season! Facing Cercle Bruges in their first warm-up match, AS Monaco won after a match where Adi Hütter was able to rotate his squad (1-0). It was also a win achieved under the watchful eye of President Dmitry Rybolovlev, who was present at the Performance Center, along with the CEOs of the two cousin clubs. ✍️
A very rough first half
At the start of this first preseason match, Adi Hütter positioned his team in a 4-4-2 formation, with Yann Lienard starting in goal. Lucas Michal lined up at right-back, while the attacking duo was Mika Biereth and Breel Embolo. And it was preseason was in name only, as the start of the match was rough with a lot of contact on both sides, as evidenced by the two yellow cards collected by Valy Konaté, which resulted in his sending off (28′).
Valy Konaté est exclu côté Bruges 🟥
28' | 0⃣-0⃣ #ASMCER
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 11, 2025
Ben Seghir is denied by Delanghe
Before that, Thibo Somers’s evasive cross had flirted with the Monaco goalkeeper’s goal (12′), while Eliesse Ben Seghir’s free kick also went just wide of Delanghe’s goal (18′). Monaco then took the lead, and the Moroccan international earned a penalty after a run but stumbled against the Cercle Bruges goalkeeper (36′) as the first half ended goalless.
C'est la pause ⏸️
Beaucoup de duels dans ce premier acte, les deux équipes sont dos à dos ⚔️
45' | 0⃣-0⃣ #ASMCER pic.twitter.com/IA7YLnFc91
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 11, 2025
Bouabré is decisive for the opening goal.
At the restart, the Monaco coach conducted a comprehensive squad review, including, a debut for Paris Brunner in La Diagonale. The first chance, however, fell to Aleksandr Golovin, whose right-footed shot went wide (52′). The Rouge et Blanc had a monopoly on the ball and on a cutback from Folarin Balogun, Mamadou Coulibaly saw his shot pushed away by an opposing defender (71′).
However, there was also a moment to cautious when it came to Pieter Gerkens’ shot, which Yann Lienard saved well (77′). After this nervy moment, Saïmon Bouabré, who had just come on, made the difference on the right side and crossed back, forcing Dalangunypole Gomis into an own goal (78′). The winner of the Maurice-Revello Tournament, who was very in form, was then denied by Delanghe in his one-on-one (89′).
L'ouverture du score des Monégasques 💪
Le défenseur du Cercle trompe son portier sur un centre de Saïmon Bouabré !
79' | 1️⃣-0⃣ #ASMCER pic.twitter.com/NaiTnNe0PE
— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) July 11, 2025
Focus on Birmingham for mini-camp
It was the last chance of this first match of the season, which saw AS Monaco win by the narrowest of margins against Cercle Bruges (1-0). The Monegasques will now head to Birmingham for a week-long training camp where two more matches await: Coventry City, July 16 at 6 p.m., then Nottingham Forest on Saturday at 4 p.m.. DAGHE MUNEGU !!! 🇲🇨
📋 Match details:
Friday, July 11 – Performance Center
Preseason: AS Monaco 1-0 Cercle Bruges
Half-time: 0-0
Goals: Own goal by Gomis (78′) for AS Monaco
Yellow cards: C. Henrique (39′), Camara (63′) for AS Monaco; Konaté (19′), (28′), Ravych (63′) for Cercle Bruges
Red card: Konaté (28′) for Cercle Bruges
AS Monaco (1st half): Lienard – C. Henrique, Salisu, Kehrer – Akliouche, Bamba, Zakaria ©, Ben Seghir – Michal, Biereth, Embolo
AS Monaco (2nd half): Lienard – Teze, Singo, Diop, Diatta – Minamino, Coulibaly, Camara, Golovin © – Balogun (Bouabré, 75′), Brunner
Substitutes: Stawiecki, Kiwa, Singo, Teze, Bouabré, Camara, Coulibaly, Diatta, Diop, Golovin, Minamino, Balogun, Brunner
Coach: Adi Hütter
Cercle Bruges: Delanghe (Lagenbick, 66th) – Diakité, Gomis, Ravych, Konaté – De Wilde, Van Der Bruggen, Diaby, Gerkens – Somers ©, Minda
Substitutes: Langenbick, Lietaert, Kakou, Martlé, Vanackere, Nazinho, Koné
Coach: Onur Cinel
