The Stade Louis-II hosts a fascinating Ligue 1 matchup as AS Monaco welcome RC Strasbourg Alsace. It’s an early-season litmus test between a Monaco side with top-two ambitions under Adi Hütter and an increasingly confident, youth-driven Strasbourg coached by Liam Rosenior. Below you’ll find up-to-date team news, a deep tactical breakdown, head-to-head context, our score prediction, and clear pointers on where to watch the match legally—with popular live-score resources like score808 and livesports808 mentioned naturally for schedules and updates. For a quick live-scores bookmark, you can also visit https://score808.fans.
Match snapshot (date, venue, kickoff)
Competition: Ligue 1
Venue: Stade Louis-II (Monaco)
Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
Kickoff: 11:15 AM ET (which is 6:15 PM EAT / Nairobi). Bleacher Nation
Recent meetings lean Monaco’s way (W3 D1 across the last four league clashes). ESPN.com
Team news & availability
AS Monaco
Coach: Adi Hütter — extended his deal in January 2025 and has doubled down on proactive, front-foot football. AS MonacoThe Guardian
Notable selection note: Eliesse Ben Seghir was left out of the squad amid strong exit links, per match-day reporting ahead of Strasbourg. Yahoo Sports
Forward line watch: Breel Embolo’s future has been a talking point this month; Hütter has addressed exit chatter publicly, which may influence rotation up top alongside Folarin Balogun/Takumi Minamino. Yahoo Sports
RC Strasbourg
Coach: Liam Rosenior — appointed in 2024 and widely credited for Strasbourg’s youthful resurgence; league previews spotlight their progress under his methods. WikipediaLigue 1
Schedule context: Strasbourg played a mid-week European qualifier and advanced to the Conference League league phase, so watch for managed minutes and rotation in key areas. Wikipedia
Form trend: Data previews ahead of the game have Strasbourg high in the early table after narrow wins, while Monaco’s underlying quality remains strong at home. WhoScored
Tactical analysis
How Monaco can hurt Strasbourg
Hütter’s Monaco remain a byword for intensity and verticality. Expect a 3-4-2-1/4-2-3-1 hybrid depending on phases:
Build & progression: Ball-playing CBs invite a press, then switch quickly into the channels for the wing-backs/full-backs to attack. The double pivot balances risk—one holder dropping to screen transitions while the other steps into half-spaces to connect.
Final third patterns:
Underlaps from the No.10s to drag Strasbourg’s full-backs inside.
Early crosses and cut-backs from wide overloads targeting Balogun/secondary runners.
Set-pieces: Hütter sides are well-drilled—near-post flicks and late far-post crashes are a recurring theme.
Pressing: High counter-press after losses; if Strasbourg break lines, Monaco will cynically foul early to reset (expect a yellow or two in midfield).
How Strasbourg can punch back
Rosenior’s Strasbourg are compact, youth-powered, and front-foot without chaos:
Out of possession: Mid-block 4-3-3 that funnels Monaco wide, then springs into aggressive full-back duels. The No.6 screens through-balls to deny Monaco’s ten-channel slips.
Transitions: Two- and three-man surges led by quick wingers. The first pass after the regain is often diagonal into space, not feet—forcing Monaco’s outside CBs to defend running back to goal.
Possession phases: Calm restarts from the goalkeeper, but with selective long balls to beat the first line and create second-ball scenarios.
Set plays: Strasbourg have embraced near-post crowding on corners with a late runner peeling off the back—an area Monaco must track closely.
Key chess match: Monaco’s wing progression vs Strasbourg’s ability to trap wide and break behind Monaco’s advancing full-backs. If Strasbourg can first-time the outlet ball, they’ll generate quality counters.
Head-to-head & momentum notes
H2H edge: Monaco have dominated recent meetings (3 wins, 1 draw across the last four Ligue 1 games). That psychological edge at Louis-II matters. ESPN.com
Early-season footing: Strasbourg have banked points with slim margins, which speaks to a team comfortable in tight game states; Monaco, under Hütter, often create the higher xG load at home, even if finishing variance appears. WhoScored
Predicted approach & XI hints
These are projection-style notes based on public hints and recent selections; always re-check final squads 1 hour before kickoff.
Monaco (projected shape 3-4-2-1):
Köhn; Salisu – Maripán – Singo; Vanderson, Fofana, Camara, Henrique; Minamino, Golovin; Balogun.
Why it works: preserves Monaco’s width and allows Minamino/Golovin to combine between lines. (Ben Seghir omission reporting supports the dual-10 mix rotating around Golovin/Minamino.) Yahoo Sports
Strasbourg (projected shape 4-3-3):
Petrović; Full-back duo with legs; dynamic 8s around a ball-winning 6; mobile front three.
Why it works: helps survive Monaco’s pressure and spring counters into the channels—especially useful if Rosenior rotates after Europe. Wikipedia
Key matchups to watch
Monaco’s right flank vs Strasbourg’s left-back zone
Vanderson’s aggressive overlaps can pin the full-back; if Strasbourg’s winger doesn’t track, Monaco will carve out cut-backs.
Golovin/Minamino between the lines vs Strasbourg’s No.6
If Monaco’s creators receive on the half-turn, Strasbourg’s back four will be forced into emergency defending.
Strasbourg counters into the channel behind Monaco’s full-backs
The first diagonal after a regain is decisive; Monaco must foul smartly or drop earlier to kill the transition.
Score prediction
Monaco 2–1 Strasbourg.
Why: Monaco’s chance creation at home plus set-piece threat should tell, but Strasbourg’s form and transition quality keep this tight. Expect one high-value Monaco move from a wide overload and one decisive set-piece. (Several neutral previews rate this close, with some even leaning toward a draw.) WhoScored
Where to watch Monaco vs Strasbourg (legal options)
Broadcast rights for Ligue 1 shifted this season, with the LFP launching a Ligue 1+ channel in many markets. Here’s a region-by-region snapshot based on current, reputable listings:
United States:
beIN SPORTS / beIN SPORTS CONNECT carry Ligue 1; Fubo also lists the Monaco vs Strasbourg stream (free trial available). beIN SPORTSJustWatchFubo TV
United Kingdom & Ireland:
Ligue 1 is available via the new Ligue 1+ service (distributed across multiple platforms and OTT; widely discussed by UK media/industry sources). Broadband TV Newsadambowie.com
France (domestic):
Other territories:
The LFP has announced a growing slate of international distribution deals for 2025/26—availability varies by country, so consult your local provider or the LFP’s updates. Sportcal
Helpful live-score resources:
For live match timings, scores and schedule reminders, many fans keep an eye on score808 and livesports808. You can also bookmark score808.fans for quick score lookups and fixture updates. (Use these for scores/schedules; always stream via your region’s official broadcaster.)
Final word
Monaco’s attacking mechanisms under Hütter—relentless width, quick combinations, and aggressive counter-pressing—make them slight favorites at Louis-II. But Rosenior’s Strasbourg arrive with confidence, legs, and structure, and have shown they can nurse one-goal game states. Expect a tactical, energetic contest decided by the details: one well-timed cut-back, one clever set piece, and the discipline to snuff out counters.
For live scores and kickoff reminders, many fans check score808, livesports808, and score808.fans—then watch the full match via official broadcasts listed above. Enjoy the game!
