Champions League – Wissam Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland, two Monegasque stars ready for the track to the stars

A duo short of form but still essential. Back from a grueling Euro, Wissam Ben Yedder and Kevin Volland must already take the plunge to help AS Monaco continue their journey to the Champions League. “They only have ten days of training behind them. You have to adapt their workload and find the right balance in relation to their teammates”, explained their coach, Niko Kovac, on the eve of meeting Sparta Prague in the third preliminary round of C1 (19h00).

The Monegasque technician is very attentive to the health of his players. And if one of them is playing a game, it is because beforehand he was deemed fit at the physical level for the playing time requested. However, last Wednesday, six days before the crucial trip to Prague, he made his stars start in a friendly against Real Sociedad (1-2). While they had just returned from vacation and had just returned to training, the French and German even played together in the first period. History to quickly find automatisms. “They won’t be ready to play 90 minutes, emphasizes Kovac. This is the reason why I made them play 45 minutes against San Sebastián. Like Aleksandr Golovin, who started with a half, then sixty minutes, we are going step by step, increasing the load.

Strike force

In Prague, however, the duo of Monegasque scorers will animate the attack of the Red and White. Because between them, they represent 36 goals (20 for Ben Yedder and 16 for Volland) and 14 assists (7 each) in the league last season. Kovac cannot do without such a strike force. Especially since his offensive squad is thinner than last season. Stevan Jovetic, left free, has joined Hertha Berlin and his designated successor, Myron Boadu, has still not officially signed up.

In addition, the young people of the group have struggled to demonstrate their qualities for many months. Wilson Isidor, back from a successful loan in Bastia-Borgo (National) but affected by Covid-19, is still in quarantine. Pietro Pellegri is gradually recovering from yet another muscle problem. Remain Krepin Diatta, the intermittent Willem Geubbels and the inexperienced Dutchman Anthony Musaba, who evolve more often on one side.

Avoid the trap

Captain Ben Yedder, new number 10 since the departure of Jovetic, whose last Champions League match dates back to spring 2018 (0-0 in the quarterfinals against Bayern Munich with Sevilla) but whose last European match took place the following season, in the Europa League in Prague once again, against Slavia, will therefore already have to be in great shape to lead his team and avoid the trap.

Opposite, the Sparta will certainly be. The Czechs started their championship with two victories (including a final convincing 5-0 score against Slovan Liberec) and took out Rapid Vienna (1-2, 2-0) in the previous round. Letná Stadium, now called Generali Arena, will be packed with 18,000 supporters. And the young guard of the club, including the prodigy striker Adam Hlozek (19), who has played four games with the Czech Republic at the Euro, will still want to shine on the continental scene to bring down Ben Yedder, Volland and company. ..

For the Monegasque stars, the path promises to be strewn with pitfalls before being able to set foot on the track with the stars. Because in the event of qualification, it will be an equally tricky opponent, Shakhtar Donetsk or Genk, who will stand on the road to Monaco in the Champions League play-offs (first leg August 17 and 18, return August 24 and 25).