AS Monaco are set to host SC Freiburg in the UEFA Europa Conference League, facing the German side without key players Eric Dier and Stanis Idumbo. Both players, who missed Monaco’s recent Ligue 1 defeat to FC Lorient over the weekend, have not recovered in time for Thursday’s European fixture.
Adding to Monaco’s squad challenges, forward Folarin Balogun will also be unavailable for the match. Balogun is ineligible for the competition, having not been included in the club’s official squad list for the Europa Conference League.
Manager’s Focus on Freiburg Clash
Despite a demanding schedule that includes a tough Ligue 1 encounter against Lille OSC over the upcoming weekend, Monaco manager Filipe Luís has indicated he will not rotate his squad for the Freiburg game. Luís emphasised the importance of the European fixture, stating, “We will just think about this one. We have to try and win tomorrow. That is the main goal.”
This approach suggests Monaco will field their strongest available team as they aim to secure a positive result in their European campaign.
Recent Form for Both Sides
Both AS Monaco and SC Freiburg will be looking to bounce back from recent setbacks. Both clubs experienced their first defeat of the season over the weekend in their respective domestic leagues. Monaco’s loss to FC Lorient and Freiburg’s own opening league defeat mean both teams will be eager to return to winning ways in the Europa Conference League.
The match presents an opportunity for either side to regain momentum and establish an early foothold in the competition.