Gornik vs Monaco – News and Probable Lineups

On Thursday, two teams making their debut in the Conference League will clash in the playoff round as Mônaco travels to face Gornik Zabrze for the first leg at Arena Zabrze.

The Polish team dropped into this tournament after losing 2-1 on aggregate to Ferencvaros in the Europa League qualification, while Mônaco finished seventh in the last Ligue 1 season, qualifying for the Conference League after Lens won the Coupe de França while already securing a spot in the Champions League.

Match overview

Gornik Zabrze is looking for a change of fortune as they have already faced eliminations from both the Champions League and Europa League qualifying rounds this season.

Under the leadership of Michal Gasparik, the team hasn’t secured a victory in their European qualifying matches this year but remains unbeaten in both of their home fixtures.

In those two home encounters, they were unable to find the net in the second halves, with an own goal in the second leg against Ferencvaros resulting in their elimination from the Europa League and a spot in this competition.

Leading up to this fixture, Gornik Zabrze has gone four competitive matches unbeaten at home, including a victory over Wisla Krakow at the weekend.

They have triumphed in two out of their last three competitive matches when scoring first.

This match will be only their third meeting ever with a Ligue 1 team in Europe, and their first home encounter since the 1971-72 European Cup, where they drew 1-1 against Marseille.

Meanwhile, Mônaco will be eager to secure a spot in a European competition for the third consecutive year under new management.

This match represents Filipe Luis’s first competitive outing as head coach, after leading Flamengo to victory in the 2025 Copa Libertadores and also claiming the Brasileiro Serie A title in the same season.

In recent years, Mônaco has struggled in European playoff matches, suffering aggregate defeats against PSV and Shakhtar Donetsk in Champions League qualifying ties earlier this decade.

On Thursday, they aim to break a three-match winless run away from home in European tournaments, having recorded two draws in that spell.

Last season, the Principality club managed to avoid defeat in three of their five away matches in the Champions League but conceded a total of 14 goals in those games.

Les Monegasques have a solid record in Poland, having won three of their previous four European visits to Central Europe.

Team News

Gornik Zabrze will be without Jaroslaw Kubicki due to a broken arm, although Sondre Liseth is eligible to participate despite his domestic red card on Sunday.

Kacper Urbanski scored the initial goal during their second-leg match against Ferencvaros, even though it was a Michal Sacek own goal just eight minutes before full-time that ultimately eliminated them from the Europa League.

For Mônaco, Mohammed Salisu is unlikely to feature as he continues his recovery from a cruciate ligament tear, while Folarin Balogun missed their recent friendly against Coventry amid speculation linking him to a transfer to Tottenham.

Mika Biereth is expected to step in as a striker in his absence, with the Danish forward starting in each of their pre-season matches and Manchester City loanee Mathys Detourbet appearing in all but one of those fixtures.

Gornik Zabrze probable starting XI:

Schulze; Sacek, Janicki, Josema, Janza; Urbanski, Dietz, Bernardo; Ikia Dimi, Prekop, Khlan

Mônaco probable starting XI:

Hradecky; Vanderson, Kehrer, Dier, Mawissa; Detourbet, Camara, Coulibaly, Golovin; Abline, Biereth

Mônaco has historically had difficulties in away matches in Europe, and it is anticipated that Gornik Zabrze’s defensive approach will challenge the Principality side in the first leg.