Why isn’t Folarin Balogun playing for Monaco against Barcelona in the Champions League today?

AS Monaco start their 2024/25 Champions League campaign with a tough home game against Barcelona on Thursday (September), in which another USMNT roster member is hoping to star: Folarin Balogun.

USMNT stars’ Champions League goals

On Tuesday, both Weston McKennie and Christian Pulisic found the net for Juventus and AC Milan respectively, although their eventual fortunes were contrasting.

While the Old Lady started with a victory against PSV Eindhoven (who fielded fellow Americans Malik Tillman, Richard Ledesma and Ricardo Pepi), the Rossoneri slumped to a 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool, despite ‘Captain America’ opening the scoring.

Balogun will look to follow in McKennie’s footsteps rather than Pulisic’s, although he will have to bide his time to make an impact against Barça.

The 23-year-old, who has scored five goals in 17 caps for the USMNT, has been named as a substitute by Monaco head coach Adi Hütter, who has opted for Swiss international Breel Embolo as the lone striker instead in a tactical decision.

Balogun in and out of the Monaco team

Former Arsenal striker Balogun started 19 of Les Monégasque’s 29 Ligue 1 matches last season, scoring seven goals.

This season, he has played from the off in two of Monaco’s first four league fixtures, but was an unused substitute for the first time since joining the club las summer in the win over Lyon on August 24, and played for just 26 minutes in last Saturday’s triumph away to Auxerre.

With five substitutes able to take to the field, Balogun will hope to get the chance to make his first ever Champions League appearance, and score his UCL first goal, against the LaLiga giants.