Ansu Fati Out, Monaco's Champions League Hopes Hang in the Balance

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Monaco, under Belgian coach Sebastien Buconioli, confronts a pressing crisis ahead of their UEFA Champions League group stage clash with Bodf8/Glimt in Norway, scheduled for Tuesday evening. The fixture is the fourth game in the group phase, and a favorable result could relieve mounting pressure on the squad.

Monaco’s Spanish forward Ansu Fati will be unavailable due to illness, and he was not part of the starting lineup in last weekend’s Ligue 1 defeat to Paris FC. The setback compounds concerns around a side that has struggled to find consistency this season.

A French outlet noted that Fatifs absence worsens Monaco’s situation, leaving the principality with 19 players in the squad for the visit to the Norwegian champions in the Champions League schedule for tonight.

The report also lists other key absences: Lucas Her diki, Eric Dier, Christia n Mowisa, Vanderson, Dennis Zakaria, Lamine Camara, and Paul Pogba. Ansu Fati and Kerbin Dyata have recently joined the casualty list, further thinning options for Buconioli.

The injury to Senegalese midfielder Kerbin Dyata is considered a major blow, given his pivotal role since Buconioli took charge. He sustained an eye injury in the recent clash with Paris Saint-Germain and faces uncertain recovery timelines.

Injury Toll and Squad Notes

Monaco head to Norway hoping to secure their first Champions League win of the season after a heavy 1-4 defeat away to Club Brugge in Belgium and two successive home draws against Manchester City (2-2) and Tottenham Hotspur (0-0).

Fati, aged 22, is in his first season with Monaco on loan from Barcelona and has already struck six goals in ten appearances for the French club. The forward5s contribution will be missed in a crucial European night.

The coach, Buconioli, provided updates on Pogba during a public briefing: Pogba is dealing with a second-degree ankle sprain. He will undergo a new examination next week to determine the exact timeline for his return. The release emphasized that the issue is a moderate sprain and that additional details would be confirmed after medical checks.

Initially, Pogba was expected to return in the previous match against Paris FC but picked up an ankle problem during training last Thursday, delaying his comeback. Some reports suggested a potential return against Rennes on November 22, while others pointed to a possible appearance against Lens in the French league soon after. Buconioli stressed patience, noting that a measured return will be staged in friendlies before entering competitive games.

Since signing a two-year contract with Monaco in June, Pogba has undergone an intensive rehabilitation program, intended to restore full fitness. He was set to feature for Monaco in early October against Angers, but the new setback postponed his official return.

The manager urged observers to judge Pogba by his current form and condition rather than past peaks at Manchester United or Juventus, highlighting the natural changes players undergo with time and experience. If he regains form, Pogba could provide the leadership Monaco seeks in both the technical and locker-room aspects.

Analysts believe Monaco aims to create an optimal environment for Pogba to rebuild confidence and rhythm, leveraging his European experience as a potential boost for the squad on both fronts. Buconioli added that the return will be gradual, with involvement in friendlies before full integration into competitive fixtures.

Club officials hope Pogba can deliver a significant contribution in the latter half of the season, reinforcing the team5s bid for high league placement and European qualification next year. Notably, Pogba had been suspended for four years due to a doping case, which was reduced to 18 months in March; after parting ways with Juventus, he joined Monaco as a free transfer.

He signed a contract through the summer of 2027, describing the move to Monaco as a fresh beacon in his career. The club is hopeful his presence will help Monaco chase a successful late-season run.