AS Monaco meet Getafe CF on Thursday night at Stade Louis II in the last home friendly before the competitive season begins, and the timing gives Filipe Luís one more chance to see how his side looks before the pressure turns real. It will also be his first competitive match in charge when Monaco’s UEFA Conference League play-off starts two weeks later.
That is why the search for Monaco Vs Getafe is running now. This is not just another preseason check. Monaco used the same ground one year ago for a 2-1 defeat against the reigning Champions League runners-up, a night that also brought Lukáš Hrádecký’s debut, Maghnes Akliouche’s goal and Paul Pogba’s first presentation to supporters. Thursday’s match should give a cleaner read on where this squad stands after a summer that still feels in motion.
The biggest new name in the frame is Matthis Abline. The forward completed his first full training session on Wednesday after joining from Nantes in a deal worth €25 million plus €5 million in bonuses, and he could make his Monaco debut here. That matters because the attack is still taking shape, and Luís wants more than just fresh legs. He was not satisfied after last Friday’s draw with Cercle Brugge, saying in effect that Monaco lacked attacking cohesion and combinations going forward and looked vulnerable when the ball was turned over.
Getafe bring a different kind of test. José Bordalás has been in charge since 2023, and his side finished 7th in La Liga last season before already completing their training camp near Alicante. Monaco, by contrast, still have work to do before their own camp in England from August 8 to 14, which leaves this match as the clearest measuring point before the schedule tightens again.
Both clubs begin their league campaigns on August 20, but Monaco are the ones carrying the sharper deadline. If the patterns Luiz wants do not start to appear against Getafe, they will have to emerge fast in the days before the play-off. For Abline, the night is a first glimpse. For Monaco, it is the last home rehearsal before results begin to count.
