Played in an unusual 4x30-minute format and featuring extensive squad rotation, AS Monaco and sister club Cercle Bruges shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw. Club President Dmitry Rybolovlev was in attendance at the Performance Centre to watch the match. Here is the recap ✍️

It was important for the players to get minutes into their legs to improve their physical condition. Almost all of them played 60 minutes, so I think they’re making progress in that area. It was a very tough, tight game. We tried to break through their defence with passes between the lines, but every time they won the ball back, they hurt us on the counter-attack. It was a good test because we’re going to face this type of team in Ligue 1.

Filipe Luís

Caught out despite a bright start 🇲🇨

Set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Vanderson returning to the starting XI, Aymen Assab making his first start and new signings Flávio Nazinho and Mathys Detourbet also included, the Principality side made a positive start and quickly looked threatening. Aleksandr Golovin came close to opening the scoring, but his effort drifted just wide of the Bruges post (10'). Despite their encouraging opening, the Monégasques were punished when Steve Ngoura curled a superb strike into the top corner (16', 0-1).

"Golo" sparks the fightback ☄️

Cercle Bruges doubled their advantage through AS Monaco loanee Valy Konaté, whose left-footed volley beat Lukáš Hrádecký and nestled into the side netting (31', 0-2). The Rouge et Blanc refused to give up, and Mika Biereth thought he had pulled one back, only to see his goal ruled out for offside (37'). It proved to be only a matter of time, however, as the Danish striker soon picked out "Golo" at the far post, and the midfielder fired a superb effort in off the underside of the crossbar to deservedly reduce the deficit (43', 1-2).

Academy talent shines 👶

Trailing 2-1 at the break, Filipe Luís opted to completely reshuffle his side for the second half, introducing a host of Academy youngsters for the remaining two 30-minute periods. The Club from the Principality pushed relentlessly for an equaliser and came close on several occasions through Paris Brunner (66', 81'), Stanis Idumbo with a right-footed effort (70'), Oumar Konaté with a header (76') and Edan Diop with a left-footed strike (89').

Paris Brunner levels it up ⚽️

Their persistence was finally rewarded when German striker Paris Brunner produced a fine piece of skill before finishing low with his left foot after being perfectly set up by La Diagonale graduate Anis Soubeir (90', 2-2). The closing stages were quieter, but the Monégasques almost completed the turnaround, only for the Cercle goalkeeper to deny Najd Ajroud's long-range effort (109'), before the Ivorian forward saw his follow-up finish brush the outside of the post two minutes later (111').

There are still many things we need to work on to implement my style of play. I think we need to build a better understanding between the forwards, but that will come with training and the upcoming matches. The young players also performed really well and combined effectively with each other. Now the objective is to keep improving and learn how to deal better with counter-attacks.

Filipe Luís

Back at the Stade Louis-II on thursday 🏟️

After 120 minutes of action, the referee brought this fiercely contested friendly between the two sister clubs to an end with the teams level at 2-2. The Rouge et Blanc will now turn their attention to their fourth pre-season fixture against Getafe on Thursday evening (20:00), marking their return to the Stade Louis-II ahead of the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off on Thursday 20 August.

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🗓️ Match sheet

Friday 31 July 2026 (17:00) – Performance Centre

Pre-season friendly (4x30-minute format): AS Monaco 2-2 Cercle Bruges

Half-time: 1-2

Goals: Aleksandr Golovin (43') and Paris Brunner (90') for AS Monaco; Steve Ngoura (16') and Valy Konaté (31') for Cercle Bruges

Yellow card: Aleksandr Golovin (49') for AS Monaco

AS Monaco: Hrádecký – Vanderson (Teze, 31'), Kehrer (C), Mawissa, Nazinho – Assab, Cabral – Coulibaly, Golovin, Detourbet – Biereth

AS Monaco 2: Lienard (Stawiecki, 91') – Teze (Nibombe, 91'), Sané, Dier, Touré – Idumbo (Ajroud, 105'), Soubeir, Benzahra, Diop – Konaté, Brunner

Substitutes: Lienard, Stawiecki, Dier, Nibombé, Sané, Teze, Ajroud, Belmokhtar, Benzahra, Diop, Idumbo, Soubeir, Touré, Brunner, Konaté

Head coach: Filipe Luís

Cercle Bruges: Coucke (C) – Diakité, Magnée, Ravych, Konaté – Amani, Martens, Diaby, Kondo – Ngoura, Amani

Substitutes: De Bel, Behaege, Ben Sadik, Caicedo, Gheerardyns, Jurado, Kakou, Kouassi, Langenbick, Michal, Mondele, Nunes

Head coach: Lars Friis

See also