AS Monaco lose away to Club Bruges

They would have liked to have had a better outcome to their Champions League debut. Unfortunately, AS Monaco players were unable to thwart Club Bruges’ plans, losing 4-1 at the Jan-Breydel Stadion. Ansu Fati scored his first goal for the Principality club. ✍️

The context 📅

AS Monaco were starting their eleventh Champions League campaign, and their second consecutive, on the pitch of the Jan-Breydel Stadion against Club Bruges. Determined to start as well as they had against Barcelona last year, the Rouge et Blanc will have to be wary of an opponent that should not be overlooked. In getting through the preliminary rounds, the Blue and Black notably thrashed Glasgow Rangers 9-1 in a two-legged encounter.

The XI 👥

Despite the absence of Denis Zakaria and Aleksandr Golovin through injury, Adi Hütter again played a 4-4-2 with Aladji Bamba starting in midfield alongside Lamine Camara. Eric Dier and Christian Mawissa return to the starting lineup, while Folarin Balogun and Mika Biereth were in attack, accompanied by Maghnes Akliouche and Takumi Minamino on the flanks.

The scenario 🎞

In front of more than 600 Monaco supporters in the Jan-Breydel Stadion, Club Bruges created the first opportunity through Christos Tzolis who missed the target, unmarked in the area (4′). The reaction of the Rouge et Blanc was not long in coming as Mika Biereth won a penalty against Simon Mignolet (8′). Unfortunately, the goalkeeper stopped a tame effort from Maghnes Akliouche (10′).

An unrelenting attack by the hosts

The Blue and Black gradually took the upper hand and created numerous chances through Nicolo Tresoldi four times (21′, 22′, 24′ and 27′), as well as through Carlos Forbs (25′). But all their attempts went wide or were stopped by Philipp Köhn. The fifth time was the charm for the Italian striker, who opened the scoring from close range (32′).

Buoyed by the euphoria of this goal, Club Brugge pressed on, doubling and then tripling the lead through Raphael Onyedika (39′) following a corner, and Hans Vanaken with a shot into the top corner (42nd minute). Meanwhile, the Monaco goalkeeper also saved a shot from the Greek winger (38′).

C'est la pause.

Premier acte compliqué pour nos Monégasques.

45' | 3️⃣-0⃣ #CLUASM pic.twitter.com/hUt6thXoef

— AS Monaco 🇲🇨 (@AS_Monaco) September 18, 2025

Debuts for Coulibaly and Fati

After a challening first half in which AS Monaco trailed by three goals, Adi Hütter made two substitutions, bringing on Thilo Kehrer and Mamadou Coulibaly, who made his Champions League debut. The game’s character remained unchanged, however, and Forbs fired into the side netting (52′). Monaco’s Danish striker responded, his low effort being saved (62′).

At the other end, Tzolis’s curled shot narrowly missed the post (63′). Immediately afterward, the Austrian coach brought on George Ilenikhena and Ansu Fati, who featured for the first time in La Diagonale (64′).

Lift their heads against Metz

Unfortunately, nothing changed, and at the start of the final quarter-hour, Bruges scored a fourth goal through Mamadou Diakhon (75′). The Rouge et Blanc then tried to salvage their honor, and the former Barça player reduced the deficit with a powerful strike at the start of added time (92′). They will now have to recover on Sunday (5:15 p.m.) against Metz at the Stade Louis-II, before returning to Champions League action in two weeks against Manchester City.

Key moments 🎥

4′: Tzolis screws a shot from the penalty spot and misses the target
8′: A penalty is won by Biereth, brought down by Mignolet
10′: Taken by Akliouche, it is blocked by the goalkeeper
21′: Tresoldi breaks free of his marker but shoots wide
22′: Tresoldi’s shot is deflected, and caught by Köhn
24′: Tresoldi, again, has a header that flirts with the post
25′: Forbs, twice, is denied by Köhn, who was well positioned
27′: Köhn wins his duel with Tresoldi from close range
32′: Tresoldi scores from close range to open the scoring (1-0)
38′: Köhn pushes away a Tzolis shot for a corner
39′: Onyedika doubles the lead from the corner (2-0)
42′: Vanaken’s shot finds the top corner (3-0)
52′: Forbs’ powerful left-footed shot only reaches the side netting
62′: Biereth’s low effort is saved by Jackers
75′: Diakhon scores the hosts’ fourth goal with a powerful shot (4-0)
92′: Fati reduces the deficit in added time (4-1)

🗓️ Match details:

Thursday, September 18 2025 (18:45) – Jan-Breydel Stadion

Champions League – Matchday 1: Club Bruges 4-1 AS Monaco

Halftime: 3-0

Goals: Tresoldi (32′), Onyedika (39′), Vanaksen (42′), Diakhon (75′) for Club Bruges

Bookings: Mignolet (11′), Vanaken (67′) for Club Bruges; Mawissa (42′), Coulibaly (72′) for AS Monaco

Club Bruges: Mignolet (Jackers, 19′)– Sabbe, Ordoñez (Spileers, 81′), Mechele, Meijer (Seys, 61′) – Onyedika (Audoor, 81′), Stankovic – Forbs (Diakhon, 61′) Vanaken ©, Tzolis – Tresoldi

Substitutes: Jackers, Seys, Siquet, Spileers, Audoor, Sandra, Vetlesen, Campbell, Diakhon, Furo, Nilsson

Manager: Nicky Hayen

AS Monaco: Köhn – Vanderson, Dier ©, Mawissa (Ouattara, 78′), C.Henrique (Kehrer, 46′) – Akliouche, Bamba (Coulibaly, 46′), Camara, Minamino – Biereth (Ilenikhena (64′), Balogun (Fati, 64′)

Substitutes: Benchaouch, Lienard, Kehrer, Ouattara, Teze, Coulibaly, Idumbo, Fati, Ilenikhena

Manager: Adi Hütter