Monaco hosts Freiburg in Conference League as both seek league redemption

AS Monaco will host SC Freiburg at Stade Louis-II on Thursday 22 October in the second round of the UEFA Europa Conference League league phase. Both teams won their opening matches—Monaco defeated CSKA Sofia 2–1 away and Freiburg beat FK Baumit Jablonec 3–2 at home—and enter with three points each, though Freiburg leads on goal difference (3 for, 2 against versus Monaco's 2 for, 1 against).

Both clubs arrive seeking to recover from their first domestic defeats of the season. Monaco lost 1–0 to Lorient on 20 October in Ligue 1, dropping from first to fifth place with 14 points, tied on points with the top four but behind on goal difference. Freiburg fell 2–1 to Bayer Leverkusen on 20 October in the Bundesliga, sliding to third place with 13 points, one behind joint leaders Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

Monaco manager Filipe Luís confirmed no squad rotation despite an upcoming Ligue 1 fixture against Lille this weekend, stating "We will just think about this one. We have to try and win tomorrow. That is the main goal." The club will be without left winger Stanis Idumbo (back injury), centre-back Eric Dier (thigh injury), and striker Folarin Balogun, who is ineligible having not been registered in the competition. Freiburg will miss attacking midfielder Florent Muslija, who is recovering from a cruciate ligament injury suffered in spring.

Monaco's likely starting lineup features goalkeeper Hrádecký; defenders Vanderson, Sadibou Sané, Mohammed Salisu, and Flávio Nazinho; midfielders Denis Zakaria, Lamine Camara, and Aleksandr Golovin; and attackers Takumi Minamino, Ansu Fati, and Matthis Abline. Freiburg's probable XI includes goalkeeper Mio Backhaus; defenders Philipp Treu, Matthias Ginter, Philipp Lienhart, and Jordy Makengo; midfielders Maximilian Eggestein, Yannik Engelhardt, and Jan-Niklas Beste; and attackers Derry Scherhant, Keisuke Goto, and Igor Matanović.

The match will be broadcast live on CazéTV (YouTube) at 16:00 Brazil time. English referee Samuel Barrott will officiate, with Michael Salisbury as VAR. Both teams enter as favourites to win the Conference League and will aim to maintain their unbeaten records in the competition while bouncing back from domestic disappointments.