One week on from their victory over AS Saint-Priest at the Performance Centre (5-2), AS Monaco travelled to face Sporting CP on Saturday evening. After a hard-fought contest, a youthful and heavily rotated Monaco side came up against Portuguese opponents further advanced in their pre-season preparations and suffered a 2-0 defeat. Match report ✍️

"Today was an important test for us because Sporting are much further ahead in their preparation. In addition, this is a very strong and well-established team. On our side, we know there is still a long way to go before we reach our full potential. It was therefore a good test for us, helping us identify areas to improve while continuing to work on every aspect of our game."

Filipe Luís, after the match

AS Monaco withstand Sporting pressure 💪

At kick-off, Filipe Luís opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, with new signings Mathys Detourbet and Flávio Nazinho both starting, the latter facing his former club. Put under pressure from the outset by Sporting, the Rouge et Blanc held firm, illustrated by a superb recovery challenge from Eric Dier on Rafael Nel (10’) and then a fine save by Lukáš Hrádecký from Flávio Goncalves' effort (17’). In between, Geny Catamo had struck the post (16’).

A response before the break 🥵

However, the Principality side gradually grew into the game. The new Portuguese left-back tried his luck twice, first with a long-range effort that drifted wide (34’), before forcing João Virginia into a comfortable save from a direct free-kick (39’). Moments later, Mika Biereth was picked out in a promising position but was denied at the last moment by a Sporting defender (40’). After the restart, young midfielder Matthias Wamu was introduced by his coach, but it was the Portuguese side who proved more clinical.

A heavily reshuffled XI 👶

Rafael Nel met a cross with a headed finish to put Sporting ahead (54’, 1-0). The Rouge et Blanc responded, with Aleksandr Golovin seeing a direct free-kick fly just over the bar (64’). AS Monaco’s line-up then took on a completely different look with the introduction of a number of young academy players. Sporting’s greater experience eventually told, and Jesse Derry doubled the hosts’ advantage with a curling effort that went in off the post (68’, 2-0).

Next up: Cercle Brugge 🇧🇪

Philipp Köhn then produced two fine saves to prevent Sporting from extending their lead (79’ and 85’), before seeing Silas Andersen’s powerful header crash against the crossbar (87’). Filipe Luís’ men kept pushing until the very end in search of a way back into the game, with Oumar Konaté testing the Lions’ goalkeeper, who gathered comfortably (90’). Shortly afterwards, the final whistle confirmed a 2-0 victory for Sporting. AS Monaco’s next pre-season fixture comes this Friday against Cercle Brugge at 17:00 at the Performance Centre.

🗓️ Match sheet

Saturday 25 July 2026 (8:30pm) - Estádio José Alvalade

Pre-season friendly: Sporting CP 2-0 AS Monaco

Half-time: 0-0

Goals: Rafael Nel (54’) and Jesse Derry (68’) for Sporting CP

Yellow cards: Mika Biereth (19’) and Aleksandr Golovin (43’) for AS Monaco / Issa Doumbia (34’) and Maxi Araújo (44’) for Sporting CP

Sporting CP: Virginia - Vagiannidis, Quaresma (c), Felicissimo - Araujo (Dias, 73’), Altimira (Lima, 59’), Doumbia (Derry, 59’), Zalazar (Andersen, 46’) - Geny (Goncalves, 46’, then Bragança, 73’), Gonçalves (Guilherme, 46’), Nel (Ioannidis, 59’)

Substitutes: Calai, Silva, Andersen, Bragança, Derry, Dias, Faye, Fresneda, Gonçalves, Guilherme, Ioannidis, Lee, Lima, Mota

Head coach: Rui Borges

AS Monaco: Hradecký (Köhn, 64’) - Kehrer (c) (Touré, 64’), Dier (Sané, 64’), Mawissa (Nibombé, 64’) - Teze (Wamu, 46’), Cabral (Assab, 64’), Coulibaly (Diop, 64’), Nazinho (Mokabakila, 64’) - Detourbet (Konaté, 64’), Golovin (Idumbo, 64’) - Biereth (Brunner, 64’)

Substitutes: Köhn, Lienard, Nibombé, Mokabakila, Sané, Ajroud, Assab, Diop, Idumbo, Touré, Wamu, Brunner, Konaté

Head coach: Filipe Luís

See also