Monaco are a side in transition, but under Filipe Luis they’ve got a clear identity brewing. The Brazilian coach has them pressing high, playing through the thirds, and trusting young legs. They open their Ligue 1 campaign against Le Havre on August 23, then welcome Marseille to the Principality a week later. That’s a perfect runway: a winnable opener to build rhythm, then a derby-style clash at the Stade Louis II where they’ll feel the crowd’s heat. No recent results in the brief, but the setup screams momentum. Marseille, meanwhile, are the known quantity here. They lost 1-2 to Atlético Madrid in a friendly on August 14 — a wake-up call against elite opposition. But they also boast a squad dripping with attacking talent: Aubameyang, Greenwood, Gouiri, Paixão. That’s a front line that can hurt anyone on their day. The concern? Their defensive shape. Against a Monaco side that loves to run in behind, that back line could be exposed. Marseille’s recent form is a mixed bag — flashes of brilliance, moments of fragility. Monaco, with a new coach and a point to prove, look sharper out of the blocks.