Centenary celebrating AS Monaco visit FC Barcelona
Last season's Ligue 1 runners-up are the blaugranes' final preseason opponents before the competitive matches begin. Coached by Austrian Adi Hütter, AS Monaco performed very well last season, qualifying for the Champions League, in turn becoming a potential opponent in the new format of the European competition. They are also celebrating this season like FC Barcelona, given it is their centenary year.
The ingredients are clearly all there for a great show on Monday at the Estadi Olímpic.
Ending preseason with a win
Just like the blaugranes, AS Monaco will be looking to end preseason with a Joan Gamper trophy win. What's more, they will also be starting their season in earnest on the same day as FC Barcelona take on Valencia when they face Saint-Étienne at the Luis II stadium .
The game at the Estadi Olímpic is the final match in the red and white's preseason, whose results have been mixed so far. Playing six games, they have beaten Feyenoord (1-3) and Club NXT (0-2), drawn against Cercle Brugge (1-1) and Sturm Graz (2-2), and lost against Servette (0-1) and Genova (1-2).
Preseason has also seen them incorporate their new signings, with three players arriving to reinforce their ranks and bolster different areas of their squad.
Three signings for new season
Thilo Kehrer arrived first. Previously on loan from West Ham, they purchased the German international, who became AS Monaco's first signing. He played 14 games last season, including five clean sheet matches, while helping them qualify for the Champions League.
There was also an addition in midfield with Lamine Camara. Born in Senegal and signed from Metz, the 20-year-old played a starring role for his former side, featuring in 33 games, providing five assists and scoring 2 goals. Another landmark from last season saw him win the Under-20 World Cup with his national side.
The final signing was forward George Ilenikhena from Antwerp, who is known for his goalscoring skills, speed, and explosiveness. He scored 14 in 50 games for the Belgian side, for whom he ended second top scorer. Last season he also scored his first goal in the Champions League, against Barça no less.