A victorious start for their league return. Facing Le Havre, just as they did last season, to open the 2026-2027 Ligue 1 McDonald's campaign, the AS Monaco players secured a professional win at the Stade Océane, sandwiched between their two Europa Conference League play-off ties (0-1). Match report ✍️

The Context 📅

Having won the first leg of their Europa Conference League play-off against Górnik Zabrze in Poland in their first official match of the season (2-3), the Rouge et Blanc turned their attention back to domestic duties with a tricky trip to Normandy. While they had won their opening top-flight fixture in each of the last four seasons, the players from the Principality had not tasted victory away at HAC since... November 2008.

The Line-up 👥

To face the Ciel et Marine, manager Filipe Luís opted for slight rotation compared to Thursday's match. This was partly due to the suspension of Christian Mawissa, who was replaced on the left flank by Flávio Nazinho, who had attended the pre-match press conference. Having missed the European trip for the same reason, Mamadou Coulibaly and Aleksandr Golovin both returned to the starting XI.

The Match 🎞

The clash kicked off under a glorious sun at the Stade Océane, backed by nearly 600 Monaco fans in the away end. They were in full voice as the Rouge et Blanc created the first opening, with Paris Brunner heading over from a pinpoint Vanderson cross (8'). An early warning shot before Eric Dier's towering, goal-bound header from a well-delivered Flávio Nazinho corner at the near post (0-1, 15')! Having already scored the team's first league goal last season, the English defender did it again, converting the Portuguese full-back's first assist for the club.

Brunner Denied, Hradecký Decisive 🧤

Dominating the early exchanges, AS Monaco came very close to doubling their lead when Paris Brunner went one-on-one with Lionel Mpasi, but the Normandy goalkeeper came out on top, before doing the same against Aleksandr Golovin (16'). Shortly after an attempt from Stanis Idumbo (21'), HAC managed to bundle the ball home at the second time of asking through Amir Richardson, despite a massive save from Lukáš Hradecký (26')... before a VAR review ruled the goal out for offside. That let-off seemed to take the sting out of the end of the first half, which remained quiet aside from a Samatta volley comfortably held by the Finnish shot-stopper (30').

Biereth Sees Goal Ruled Out ⚽

It was a similar story after the restart, although the tempo increased slightly, leading to a scramble in the box following a knockdown from the hosts, ultimately to no avail (54'). That was the cue for Anis Soubeir to enter the fray, immediately making his mark with his first touch in a duel with Mpasi, who stood tall once again (59'). Lukáš Hradecký proved equally commanding against Amir Richardson at the other end (59'). The Monegasques went back on the attack, and fellow substitute Mika Biereth thought he had doubled the lead, only for his goal to be ruled out because the corner had to be retaken (63')!

A Nervy Final 15 Minutes but 3 Points Secured ✅

A surprising decision, but it didn't stop Lamine Camara from trying his luck from distance (68'), nor 'Golo' from testing the keeper from a direct free-kick (73'), with both efforts thwarted by Mpasi. The visitors had to be careful, however, as the final opportunities fell to Le Havre. Monaco's last line of defence was called into action to deal with a cross-shot from Ndiaye (78'), before denying Koffi (84'). The ultimate scare came late on with a sudden strike from Mizuta, which fortunately flashed wide of the target (92').

The scoreline remained unchanged, and AS Monaco secured a 1-0 away victory over Le Havre to mark their return to Ligue 1 action. It is a promising result ahead of the Europa Conference League play-off second leg against Górnik Zabrze on Thursday at the Stade Louis-II (18:45). DAGHE MUNEGU !!! 🇲🇨

Highlights 🎥

  1. 8': Vanderson crosses for Brunner, whose header is off target
  2. 15': Nazinho's corner is headed home by Dier (0-1)
  3. 16': Mpasi wins a one-on-one duel against Brunner
  4. 21': Long-range attempt from Idumbo comfortably held by the Le Havre keeper
  5. 26': Richardson scores from a rebound, but the goal is ruled out for offside
  6. 30': Samatta's volley is gathered by Hradecký
  7. 54': Cross from Richardson for Ndiaye's knockdown, which comes to nothing
  8. 59': Soubeir goes one-on-one with Mpasi, who makes the save
  9. 59': Richardson's shot is easily stopped by Hradecký
  10. 63': Biereth's header from a corner is ruled out
  11. 68': Camara's long-range strike is caught by Mpasi
  12. 73': Golovin's direct free-kick is tipped over by Mpasi
  13. 78': Ndiaye's cross-shot is tipped over the bar by Hradecký
  14. 84': Koffi's curling effort is held by Hradecký
  15. 92': Sudden strike by Mizuta misses the target

The Stat 📊

AS Monaco have won their opening Ligue 1 match of the season for the 15th time in the 21st century, the second-highest total behind Lyon (17) over this period. The club from the Principality are now on a run of five consecutive opening-day victories, their longest such streak and the longest active run in the top flight.

🗓️ Match Details:

Sunday, August 23, 2026 (17:15) - Stade Océane

Ligue 1 McDonald’s - Matchday 1: Le Havre 0-1 AS Monaco

Half-time: 0-1 Goal: Dier (15') for AS Monaco

Bookings: Richardson (21'), Doucouré (34') and Sasso (44') for Le Havre; Golovin (64') and Vanderson (66') for AS Monaco

Le Havre: Mpasi - Doucouré (Jelert, 70'), Pembélé (Nakamura, 70'), Sasso, Seko, Zouaoui (Koffi, 39') - Ebonog (Mizuta, 88'), Mwanga, Ndiaye © - Richardson - Samatta (Maja, 70')

Substitutes: Diaw, Koffi, Jelert, Ouziad, Bouneb, Mizuta, Mosengo, Maja, Nakamura

Manager: Didier Digard

AS Monaco: Hradecký - Vanderson (Kehrer, 89'), Sané, Dier, Nazinho (Touré, 81') - Zakaria ©, Camara - Coulibaly (Soubeir, 57'), Golovin, Idumbo (Konaté, 80') - Brunner (Biereth, 57')

Substitutes: Köhn, Kehrer, Benzahra, Cabral, Detourbet, Soubeir, Touré, Biereth, Konaté

Manager: Filipe Luís

See also