Filipe Luís Begins AS Monaco Era in Ligue 1 Against Le Havre

AS Monaco’s Filipe Luís era moves quickly from Europe to Normandy this weekend, as the new coach takes charge of his first Ligue 1 match away at Le Havre AC.

The Brazilian’s reign began on Thursday night with a wild 3-2 win over Górnik Zabrze in the first leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League playoff, a result that brought goals, encouragement – and an early test of the squad’s depth.

He will need that depth now.

Luís already stretched for Ligue 1 bow

Monaco travel light in terms of options. Christian Mawissa is suspended, while Jordan Teze, Ansu Fati and new signing Mattias Abline are all sidelined through injury. Takumi Minamino and Folarin Balogun, both heavily used and central to Monaco’s attacking threat, are being rested and have not even been named in the matchday squad.

So Luís turns to the new faces again.

Manchester City loanee Mathys Detourbet is in line for a second straight start after making his competitive debut in midfield on Thursday. Alongside him, summer arrival Sadibou Sané, signed from Metz, should again anchor the defence after also featuring in the Conference League tie.

On the left, Flávio Nazinho is set for his first competitive start in Monaco colours. The full-back, recruited from Cercle Brugge, offers energy and width, and this trip to Le Havre hands him a quick introduction to the grind of a Ligue 1 season.

A reshaped Monaco XI

With senior attackers missing and the calendar already congested, Luís is expected to send out a side that blends new signings with established leaders.

Monaco’s likely line-up at Le Havre: Lukas Hradecky; Flávio Nazinho, Eric Dier, Sadibou Sané, Vanderson; Mathys Detourbet, Lamine Camara, Denis Zakaria, Mamadou Coulibaly; Mika Biereth, Aleksandr Golovin. (L’Éq)

Europe has already given a glimpse of what this new-look Monaco might become. Now the question is how quickly Luís’s patched-up squad can translate that promise into points on a demanding Ligue 1 opening day.