AS Monaco will play European football this season! For their grand return to the Stade Louis-II in competitive action, the Rouge et Blanc comfortably defeated Górnik Zabrze (4-1), thereby booking their ticket for the 2026-2027 Conference League league phase. Match report ✍️
The Context 📅
Having emerged victorious from the Conference League play-off first leg a week ago away to Górnik Zabrze (2-3), the Principality club also picked up a win four days ago on the road against Le Havre on the opening day of the Ligue 1 McDonald's season (0-1). While they have kicked off their 2026-2027 campaign with two wins, the Monegasques needed to build on their positive result in Poland to secure their spot in the C4 league phase.
I warned my players that it would be a tough match, because they are a good side. We have to remember that they caused major problems for Fenerbahçe, who are a Champions League-level team and failed to win in Poland before narrowly securing a victory in the return leg.
Filipe Luís on the Polish team
The Line-Up 👥
To face the Polish side, Filipe Luís decided to put his trust in the players who defeated the Ciel et Marine this weekend in the league, fielding the same starting XI as in Normandy. The sole goalscorer in that crucial win and subsequent match MVP, Eric Dier, retained his place at centre-back alongside summer signing Sadibou Sané. Having scored a decisive header in the first leg and also earning Man of the Match honours, Paris Brunner was selected to lead the line.
The Action 🎞
Right from the kick-off of this European tie, the Rouge et Blanc monopolised possession and set up camp in the opposition's half. Up against a very deep and compact Polish low block, the players from the Rock initially struggled to carve out clear-cut chances, although Denis Zakaria (6') and then Paris Brunner (12') both tried their luck without hitting the target.
A Gem from Paris Brunner 🎯
On the counter-attack, it was ultimately Michal Gasparik's men who registered the first shot on target of the game through Maksym Khlan, which posed no trouble for Lukáš Hrádecký (25'). Relentless in their pressure, the club from the Rock were finally rewarded with a superb strike from the German centre-forward, which nestled under the Polish goalkeeper's crossbar following a smart lay-off from Mamadou Coulibaly (30', 1-0)!
Madou' Doubles the Lead 🔥
Górnik Zabrze attempted to respond, but the Ukrainian winger's free-kick sailed well wide (35'). Three minutes later, Flávio Nazinho, who was highly active on the left flank tonight, tried his luck from the edge of the box; unfortunately, his shot-cross was kept out at the last second by Philipp Schulze (38'). The Monegasques continued to push for a second goal and were rewarded shortly before half-time, thanks to a powerful drive from the French right-winger that left the Zabrze keeper with no chance and found the back of the net (43', 2-0)!
Golo' Puts the Game Out of Reach 💪
Still hungry after the break, the Rouge et Blanc quickly netted their third goal of the evening following a high ball recovery by Aleksandr Golovin, who calmly finished with his left foot to beat the opposition goalkeeper (50', 3-0)! Numerous substitutions were made by both sides and the tempo gradually dropped, even though Maksym Khlan forced Lukáš Hrádecký into a save just after the hour mark (64').
Mika Biereth Seals the Win 🇩🇰
With the Monegasques controlling the latter stages of the match by retaining possession, they added a fourth goal courtesy of Mika Biereth, who was well-positioned to capitalise after Mathys Detourbet's shot was spilled by the Polish keeper (78', 4-0)! Despite the heavy deficit, the Polish side did not give up and Frenchman Janis Antiste, well-spotted in the penalty area, reacted quickly to beat Lukáš Hrádecký (83', 4-1).
The referee then blew the final whistle on a 4-1 scoreline in favour of the hosts, a result that secures AS Monaco's ticket to the upcoming C4 league phase. DAGHE MUNEGU! 🇲🇨
Match Highlights 🎥
- 12': Zakaria tries his luck from distance but the ball flashes just wide.
- 25': Khlan shoots from long range but his effort is comfortably gathered by Lukáš Hrádecký.
- 30': Brunner unleashes a magnificent strike under the crossbar to open the scoring (1-0).
- 38': Nazinho comes close to catching the Polish goalkeeper out with a shot-cross.
- 43': Coulibaly doubles the lead with a crisp strike (2-0).
- 45+1': The Polish side think they have reduced the deficit, but their goal is ruled out for a prior foul on Sané.
- 50': Golovin beats the opposition goalkeeper following a high turnover (3-0).
- 64': Khlan forces the Monegasque keeper into a save with a low driven shot.
- 78': Biereth pounces on a poorly cleared Detourbet strike to finish (4-0).
- 83': Antiste, well-found in the box, narrows the gap (4-1).
Key Stat 📊
AS Monaco will compete in European competition (C1, C3, C4) for the 10th time since the Club's return to Ligue 1 in the 2013-2014 season. Only Paris Saint-Germain (14) boast a better record among French teams over this period (10 for both Olympique Lyonnais and Olympique de Marseille).
🗓️ Match Details:
Thursday 27 August 2026 (18:45) - Stade Louis-II
Conference League - Play-off second leg: AS Monaco 4-1 Górnik Zabrze
Half-time: 2-0
Goals: Brunner (30'), Coulibaly (43'), Golovin (50') and Biereth (78') for AS Monaco; Antiste (83') for Górnik Zabrze
Yellow cards: Dietz (33') and Khlan (52') for Górnik Zabrze
AS Monaco: Hrádecký - Vanderson (Touré, 75'), Sané, Dier, Nazinho - Zakaria © (Soubeir, 66'), Camara - Coulibaly (Benzahra, 66'), Golovin (Biereth, 55'), Idumbo (Detourbet, 55') - Brunner
Substitutes: Köhn, Lienard, Kehrer, Mawissa, Teze, Benzahra, Cabral, Soubeir, Touré, Biereth, Detourbet, Konaté
Manager: Filipe Luís
Górnik Zabrze: Schulze - Sacek (Warczak, 59'), Janicki ©, Bochniewicz (Josema, 46'), Zmrzly - Dietz (Paulo Bernardo, 46'), Sadilek, Urbanski - Peter (Ikia Dimi, 46'), Liseth, Khlan (Antiste, 68')
Substitutes: Kania, Janza, Josema, Loska, Paulo Bernardo, Warczak, Kubicki, Antiste, Durdov, Ikia Dimi, Prekop
Manager: Michal Gasparik
