Monaco Faces Injury Worries Ahead of Ligue 1 Opener
AS Monaco are gearing up to kick off their Ligue 1 season at home against Le Havre AC this Saturday evening, but there’s a cloud of uncertainty hovering over one of their star attackers, Folarin Balogun. The USMNT striker, who battled through a serious shoulder injury last season, had fought his way back to fitness in time for Monaco’s campaign end. However, now his availability for the season opener is in question.
At a recent press conference, head coach Adi Hütter revealed that Balogun has been dealing with a minor calf issue. While it isn’t serious, the medical team will carefully evaluate whether it’s worth risking him against Le Havre. Hütter remains optimistic, though, suggesting that Balogun should be fully fit for the following Sunday’s match against Lille OSC.
Monaco won’t just be missing Balogun if he’s sidelined. World Cup winner Paul Pogba and Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati are also still building up their match fitness, meaning they won’t feature in this first fixture. Midfielder Soungoutou Magassa has been ruled out due to suspension, leaving Hütter with some reshuffling to do. On the bright side, new goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky is expected to make his debut after joining from Bayer Leverkusen, which adds an experienced option at the back.
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The upcoming clash sets Monaco against a Le Havre side that has been solid in recent years, securing survival in the top flight for consecutive seasons. Despite struggling in pre-season friendlies, Le Havre will be hoping their experience and resilience will help them challenge Monaco on their own turf. Yet, Monaco’s home form remains impressive, and with Champions League football on the horizon, Hütter’s squad will be eager to start the season strongly.
Last season, Monaco finished third, narrowly missing out on the Champions League group stage. With that European campaign secured this time around, the team will be aiming for more consistency and perhaps a genuine title challenge in Ligue 1. The pre-season has been intense, with eight friendlies played, seven of which were undefeated. Only a narrow loss to Inter Milan interrupted an otherwise solid preparation.
Monaco’s likely lineup could see Hradecky in goal, with a back four of Vanderson, Dier, Kehrer, and Henrique. The midfield is expected to feature Golovin, Zakaria, Camara, and Akliouche, while Balogun and Biereth could spearhead the attack, depending on fitness. Le Havre, meanwhile, will be without their coach Didier Digard on the touchline due to a ban, and striker Elysee Logbo is sidelined with a shoulder injury, but their lineup still includes experienced players like Ally Samatta to lead the line.
All signs point to Monaco being the favorites to secure a comfortable win at Stade Louis II, a victory that would also mark their 1,100th in Ligue 1 history. Fans will be watching closely, especially with key players returning from injuries in the weeks ahead, and the season’s first steps already carrying the promise of high stakes and big ambitions.
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