Business is picking up for ASM. The Monegasques start their 2022-2023 season with the third preliminary round of the Champions League against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday August 2. The key is a step towards qualifying for the group stage of the biggest European competition. The task looks daunting. Franceinfo: sport takes stock of what you need to know before the meeting.
A Monegasque collective not yet established
Already on the bridge. Monaco is the first French club to launch its European season. The principality’s team resumed training in mid-June, and multiplied friendly matches to get their legs ready for this first big meeting.
But the Red and Whites blew hot and cold on the pitch. In seven games, they have only won two, against their satellite club, Cercle Bruges (1-0), and against the Portuguese Portimonense (2-0). Capable of standing up to Inter Milan (2-2), Philippe Clément’s men were hooked by Austria Vienna, before falling to Porto (1-2) on July 23, then to Southampton on July 27 (1-3). The collective will therefore have to pull themselves together on Tuesday so as not to find themselves in difficulty against PSV.
The Monegasque attack expected at the turn
In the Monegasque camp, it is towards the front that we must look. The offensive sector is particularly expected on Tuesday evening. In addition to Wissam Ben Yedder, second top scorer in Ligue 1 last season, and Kevin Volland, the Monegasque attack has strengthened with the arrivals of Takumi Minamino and Breel Embolo during the off-season.
“We have our strengths, offensively (…) We are compact and attack with all the players”explained coach Philippe Clément in a pre-match press conference. It will take no less to break through the Dutch defense and take the best possible advantage before the trip to the Netherlands.
The start of a marathon to the stars
This first match of the season marks the beginning of a potential long road for the Monegasques before being able to taste the great European evenings. In the event of victory during this double confrontation, the men of Philippe Clément would qualify for the play-offs, which are disputed during the last two weeks of August.
There, they will find either the Glasgow Rangers, semi-finalists of the Europa League, or the Belgians of the Union Saint Gilloise, who face each other in the 3rd round, according to the draw made on Tuesday. We will have to win this duel again to reach the group stage of the Champions League. In the event of elimination, in the preliminary round as in the play-offs, Ben Yedder and his teammates will automatically be transferred to the group stage of the Europa League, like last year after the disappointment against Shakhtar Donetsk.
PSV, a known opponent and already in good shape
The opponent who stands in their way is well known to Monegasques. The principality’s players recently crossed swords with the Dutch during the group stage of the last Europa League. Winners at the Philips Stadion (2-1) and hooked at home (0-0), they had found the recipe not to give in. “We will have to use the same ingredients to repeat this kind of performance”approved Axel Disasi at a press conference.
#JCS2022 was
Now we march on #AJAPSV pic.twitter.com/BzYlI4luN7— PSV (@PSV) July 31, 2022
For its part, PSV prepared in the best possible way for the meeting by winning the Dutch Supercup against Ajax (5-3) on Saturday. Carried in particular by the young Parisian defector Xavi Simons and the Dutchman Guus Til, the team of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who arrived on the bench a few weeks ago, seems particularly well armed offensively. The Monegasque defense is warned.