Planning to watch Le Havre AC - AS Monaco in Ligue 1 at Stade CMA CGM Océane? Prepare your trip to Le Havre, check the updated date of 23 August 2026 and plan your ticket purchase. The guide covers the season opener, key players, tactical themes and practical transport information for matchday
Le Havre AC - AS Monaco: season opener that immediately brings pressure
Le Havre AC and AS Monaco enter the new Ligue 1 season from different starting points, but with the same objective in the first round: avoid an early step backward. Le Havre finished last season in 14th place with 35 points, while Monaco were seventh with 54 points. As the 2026/2027 season has not yet started, there is no current league table to distinguish the teams, so the final standings from the previous season provide the most useful framework for this match.
For fans planning to travel, there is an important change compared with previously published information. The current schedule lists the Havre AC - AS Monaco match for Sunday, 23 August 2026 at 17:15. The previously stated time of 22 August at 13:00 is no longer current. The match will be played at Stade CMA CGM Océane, the new name of the former Stade Océane.
The league opener carries additional weight for Monaco because it comes between two European qualifying matches scheduled for 20 and 27 August. New coach Filipe Luís must already balance freshness and continuity in his first league appearance, while Le Havre can devote the entire week to their home season opener.
Tickets for this match are in demand among fans, especially because it is Le Havre's first home league appearance of the new season.
What both teams bring from last season
Monaco finished seventh in 2025/2026. The final round summed up their season well: in Strasbourg they led 4-1, but eventually lost 5-4. The team had enough individual quality for big matches, but not enough stability to remain closer to the top throughout the year.
Le Havre finished 14th with 35 points. One of their important strengths was the ability to survive matches in which they did not have control. That is precisely why the opener against the technically stronger Monaco is a good early test: the home side must remain compact, but at the same time be more dangerous going forward.
Last season's head-to-head meetings give Le Havre a certain amount of confidence. Monaco won 3-1 at home in August 2025, but the return match in Le Havre in January 2026 ended 0-0. It was the second consecutive league meeting between these teams at this stadium in which Monaco failed to win, following a 1-1 draw in April 2025.
Le Havre: continuity on the bench and new solutions in attack
Didier Digard has remained in charge and enters his third consecutive season with the first team. The squad was reshaped again during the summer. Among the more important names in mid-August were Mory Diaw and Lionel Mpasi-Nzau among the goalkeepers, Ayumu Seko, Vincent Sasso, Yanis Zouaoui, Fodé Doucouré and Timothée Pembélé in defence, Junior Mwanga, Rassoul Ndiaye and Amir Richardson in midfield, and Felix Mambimbi, Josh Maja and Mbwana Samatta in attack.
In their most recently verified pre-season appearance, Le Havre lost 3-2 to Real Oviedo on 8 August. Samatta scored to make it 1-0 after a move built through passing from the back line forward. That detail shows one of the possible ideas behind Digard's team: play out of pressure through combinations and then accelerate towards the attackers. The three goals conceded at the same time serve as a warning about the space that can open up after losing the ball.
For the home side, the quality of the midfielders' first pass will be important. Mwanga brings physical strength and the ability to carry the ball through the middle, while Richardson increases the range of options in the central area. If Le Havre escape Monaco's first press, they can look for space behind the visiting full-backs and bring Samatta or Maja into play early.
One confirmed longer-term problem is young defender Stephan Zagadou, who suffered a serious knee injury in April. The final status of all available players should nevertheless be checked closer to the match.
Monaco under Filipe Luís: more options and good pre-season form
The biggest change at Monaco is the coach. Filipe Luís took charge of the team during the summer, and pre-season showed that he does not want to be tied to just one structure. Monaco used a 4-2-3-1 in some matches, while against Getafe they started in a formation described as 4-4-2. This allows changes in the number of players between the lines and in the height of the press depending on how Le Havre build their attacks.
The current squad offers plenty of international experience. In defence there are Eric Dier, Jordan Teze, Thilo Kehrer and Vanderson, in midfield Denis Zakaria, Paul Pogba, Aleksandr Golovin and Lamine Camara, while the attacking options include Folarin Balogun, Mika Biereth, Paris Brunner, Ansu Fati and Matthis Abline.
Pre-season up to 14 August showed that Monaco can create chances from different scenarios. They beat AS Saint-Priest 5-2, lost 2-0 to Sporting Lisbon, drew 2-2 with Cercle Bruges, defeated Getafe 1-0 and then came back from 0-2 at Anfield to beat Liverpool 3-2. The goals in that comeback were scored by Golovin, Biereth and Brunner, for whom it was his fifth goal of pre-season.
Golovin can receive the ball between the lines and immediately accelerate the attack, Camara provides energy in midfield, while Zakaria can carry the ball forward after winning possession. Ahead of them, Biereth and Balogun offer different finishing profiles, while Abline and Fati can attack from the flank or from the half-spaces.
It is worth securing tickets in good time because Le Havre's first home round against an opponent of this calibre naturally attracts additional attention.
Tactical duel: can Le Havre slow down the visitors' midfield
The most important area should be midfield. Monaco have enough technically secure players to move the home block with possession, but during pre-season they also showed that they can be vulnerable when the opponent bypasses the first wave of pressure. Cercle Bruges took a 2-0 lead against Monaco before the French team came back to 2-2.
Le Havre therefore do not necessarily have to dominate possession. A more realistic plan is to close the central channels, force Monaco to spread the play and then break quickly towards the flanks. If the home midfielders win enough second balls, Monaco's centre-backs could more often find themselves defending towards their own goal.
On the other hand, Le Havre must not allow Monaco easy receptions between the midfield and defensive lines. Golovin is particularly dangerous when he receives the ball facing goal, while the attackers can use the space created when a centre-back steps out. If the home block becomes too narrow, Monaco can switch the play through the full-backs. If it spreads too much, channels open for vertical passes.
An early goal would completely change the nature of the match. A Le Havre lead would force Monaco to commit more players ahead of the ball and open space for transitions. An early goal for the visitors would allow Monaco to lower the tempo and control possession, which would be especially useful because of their congested schedule.
Last four league head-to-head meetings
- 24.01.2026: Le Havre AC - AS Monaco 0-0
- 16.08.2025: AS Monaco - Le Havre AC 3-1
- 26.04.2025: Le Havre AC - AS Monaco 1-1
- 22.09.2024: AS Monaco - Le Havre AC 3-1
The sequence shows a clear difference between home and away matches. Monaco won 3-1 twice in a row at their own stadium, but failed to win on their last two league visits to Le Havre. For the home side, this is concrete proof that a disciplined block on this ground can reduce the individual difference in quality.
Stade CMA CGM Océane: compact stadium and a new name
The stadium, opened in 2012, has carried the name Stade CMA CGM Océane since June 2026. Its capacity is 25,000, and the address is Boulevard de Leningrad, 76600 Le Havre. The complex covers 19 hectares and has 1,500 square metres of photovoltaic panels.
For the first home round, the psychological aspect is also important. Le Havre enter the season with a changed squad, but at a stadium where they managed to hold Monaco to 0-0 in January. The home crowd will quickly respond to aggressive pressing, duels and early shots at goal, so Monaco must get through the opening phase without unnecessary turnovers and fouls around the penalty area.
Ticket sales for this match are under way, and interest is further increased by the fact that it is the first league weekend.
How to reach the stadium during work on the tram network
The most important practical information for visitors in 2026 concerns work on the expansion of the tram network. Because of this, Le Havre Seine Métropole is increasing the number of free supporter shuttle buses on matchdays in order to reduce pressure on access roads and car parks.
- Free shuttle departures begin 2 hours before the match.
- The main departure points are Le Havre - Gare routière, quai E, Montivilliers - Cité des Abbesses and Harfleur - Cœur historique.
- The expanded system provides for up to 14 shuttle buses and a capacity of up to 3,500 passengers per match.
- Regular LiA lines 12, 17, 20 and 21 stop at Stade Océane, while line C2 stops at J. Deschaseaux.
- Return shuttle buses operate for up to one hour after the end of the match.
Those arriving by car should expect slower traffic and possible changes to access because of the works. For visitors arriving by train, a practical option is to reach the main station and continue by shuttle bus. For those staying in the city, regular LiA lines reduce the need to enter the tightest traffic ring by car.
The exact opening time of the entrances for this match has not yet been confirmed in the verified sources. It is therefore sensible to plan an earlier arrival, especially because of the first round, heavier traffic and temporary traffic restrictions. Final instructions regarding entrances, sections and any additional rules should be checked immediately before departure.
What to watch immediately before the match
The most important information will be Monaco's line-up. Because of the European two-legged tie around this round, rotation is a realistic possibility, but it is not possible to state reliably in advance who will be rested. For Le Havre, attention should be paid to the choice of striker and the midfield setup: Samatta scored in the most recently verified pre-season match, Maja brings an additional option in the penalty area, while Mwanga and Richardson provide physical strength and stride length in midfield.
If Digard decides to play with an additional midfielder, the likely objective will be to reduce the space available to Golovin and Camara. If he starts more aggressively, the home side will try to press Monaco before the visitors establish their rhythm. The opening minutes will show whether Le Havre are moving towards a patient low block or a bolder press on the build-up.
Sources:
- AS Monaco - current first-round date and time, European schedule around the match, coach Filipe Luís, 2026/2027 squad and pre-season results.
- LFP - Ligue 1 schedule for the 2026/2027 season and confirmation of the Havre AC - AS Monaco pairing in the first round.
- Le Havre Seine Métropole - shuttle buses, regular LiA lines, traffic changes and stadium access during work on the tram network.
- Ville du Havre - new name of Stade CMA CGM Océane, capacity, address, year of opening and basic stadium information.
- Transfermarkt - current overview of the Le Havre AC squad for the 2026/2027 season.
- AS and L'Equipe - Le Havre's pre-season matches, Stephan Zagadou's condition and verification of the line-ups used during the summer.
- AS Monaco, ESPN and Foot Mercato - results of the most recent league head-to-head matches.
- Foot-actu - final Ligue 1 standings in the 2025/2026 season.