In a keenly observed fifth pre-season encounter, AS Monaco succumbed to a narrow 1-2 defeat against Genoa. The match, staged at the Performance Center and witnessed by President Dmitry Rybolovlev alongside General Manager Thiago Scuro, marked the debut of the promising new recruit Lamine Camara and the return of the seasoned Caio Henrique.
Riding high on a recent victory over Feyenoord, coach Adi Hütter opted to continue with his favored 3-4-1-2 formation. The Red and Whites showcased early dominance, with notable efforts from Takumi Minamino and Breel Embolo, though they were thwarted by Genoa’s steadfast goalkeeper. The match's momentum shifted when Junior Messias of Genoa found the back of the net with a precise header in the 16th minute, leaving Monaco trailing.
Despite relentless attempts, including near-misses from Vitinha and Folarin Balogun who both rattled the woodwork, Monaco struggled to level the score before the break. The second half brought more misfortune for Monaco as Balogun’s goal was disallowed, and Genoa’s Retegui saw his shot expertly saved.
The match’s decisive moment came in the 58th minute when Aaron Martin doubled Genoa’s lead with a striking finish into the top corner. In response, Hütter introduced multiple substitutions, including George Ilenikhena and Caio Henrique, in a bid to revive Monaco’s fortunes. Their persistence paid off when Félix Lemarechal set up the new striker for a late goal, narrowing the deficit in the 90th minute.
Monaco’s final opportunity fell to Myron Boadu, whose potential equalizer was ruled offside, cementing their 1-2 loss. As they prepare for their upcoming challenge against Barcelona in the Gamper Trophy next Monday, Monaco is keenly focused on fine-tuning their strategy before kicking off the Ligue 1 season against Saint-Etienne on Saturday, August 17.