Monaco Prepares for Getafe in Final Friendly Before Conference League Play-Off Push

AS Monaco will face Getafe in their final pre-season friendly at home before the start of competitive football. The Spanish club replaces Inter Milan as Monaco's high-profile opponent at Stade Louis II, offering Filipe Luís a tactical examination ahead of the UEFA Conference League play-off first leg.

Abline's Debut Opportunity

Striker Matthis Abline is positioned to make his Monaco debut after joining from Nantes for a combined fee of €25 million plus €5 million in add-ons. The 22-year-old completed his first full training session midweek and rested during the previous fixture against Cercle Brugge to continue building match fitness. His deployment will be closely monitored, as Filipe Luís has not yet clarified whether Abline will partner Mika Biereth in a traditional two-striker formation or operate alongside Aleksandr Golovin, who has featured as a second striker throughout pre-season.

Abline represents the centerpiece of Monaco's summer rebuild, making his performance against Getafe a significant indicator of how the attack will function once the competitive season begins on August 20.

Testing Tactical Vulnerabilities

Filipe Luís expressed dissatisfaction with Monaco's attacking coherence and defensive solidity during the Cercle Brugge match. The side demonstrated gaps in combination play going forward and showed susceptibility on counter-attacks. Getafe, who finished seventh in La Liga last season and begin their domestic campaign on the same date as Monaco, present an organized opponent to address these concerns before the Conference League play-off.

The Madrid-based club operates under the continuity provided by manager José Bordalás, who has held the position since 2023, whereas Monaco enters this fixture with Filipe Luís preparing for his first competitive match in charge. Monaco will travel to England for a training camp from August 8 to 14 following this friendly, while Getafe has already completed their pre-season preparation near Alicante.