Two teenage midfielders made their competitive debuts for AS Monaco on Thursday, entering the fray during the club’s 3-2 first-leg victory over Górnik Zabrze in Poland’s Conference League playoffs. Anis Soubeir and Safouane Benzahra, both products of Monaco’s youth development, took significant strides in their early professional careers with meaningful contributions in European competition.
Soubeir’s Polish Impact and Summer Transition
Soubeir, 19, replaced Mathys Detourbet in the 55th minute and quickly stamped his authority on proceedings. The Morocco U20 international drew a yellow card shortly after entering the pitch, then produced a moment of genuine quality in the 86th minute when he whipped a free kick that forced Górnik’s goalkeeper into a sharp deflection. His summer journey from FC Metz—where he arrived in 2025 on a deal running through June 2028—has already yielded an assist during Monaco’s friendly win against Liverpool, signalling the teenager’s rapid adaptation to his new environment.
Benzahra Steps Up After Prolific Youth Season
Benzahra entered the action nine minutes before the final whistle, replacing captain Denis Zakaria. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder, who recently celebrated his birthday, arrives at Monaco off the back of an impressive U19 campaign where he netted eight goals and laid on four assists across 18 appearances. Formerly with NAC Breda, he represents Morocco at U18 level and was handed this European opportunity despite his minimal first-team exposure to date.
Next Steps in the Return Leg Window
Aymen Assab, a summer arrival from Paris Saint-Germain who holds U18 international status for France through his Moroccan heritage, remained unused on the bench. The second leg at Stade Louis-II on August 27 presents the academy graduate with a chance to follow Soubeir and Benzahra into competitive action. Monaco’s willingness to blood three academy products in European knockout football suggests confidence in their readiness to step up when rotation or squad depth demands it.
