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After falling to Benfica in the playoffs last season, AS Monaco hoped to make a stronger impact in this year’s Champions League. Instead, their campaign started on the wrong foot with a heavy 4-1 defeat away to Club Brugge on Matchday 1. The loss left Adi Hütter’s men with work to do, and while the group standings after one game are largely symbolic, a poor follow-up could leave the Principality side under pressure early.
In Ligue 1, Monaco’s form has been mixed but serviceable. They recently edged Auxerre 2-1, though inconsistency has been a recurring theme in their domestic performances. Before facing Manchester City at Stade Louis II, they are scheduled to play Metz at home and Lorient away.
Manchester City Looking to Reclaim Status
Manchester City, winners of the Champions League in 2023, enter this season aiming to restore their dominance after last year’s disappointment, when they were eliminated in the playoff round. Pep Guardiola’s team opened their group-stage campaign positively, defeating Napoli 2-0, a match in which they played with a numerical advantage for much of the contest.
Their domestic campaign has been less straightforward. Early slip-ups saw them drop valuable points, though a resounding 3-0 win in the Manchester Derby against United helped reset their momentum. Upcoming fixtures against Arsenal and Burnley in the Premier League add to a demanding schedule before their trip to Monaco.
Team News and Key Players
Monaco remain hampered by injuries and absences. Creative playmaker Aleksandr Golovin is sidelined, while captain Denis Zakaria and first-choice goalkeeper Lukáš Hrádecký are also expected to miss out. New signing Paul Pogba is still building fitness and unlikely to feature, though summer recruit Ansu Fati already opened his account with a goal against Brugge. Takumi Minamino, Folarin Balogun (one goal in Ligue 1), Dane Biereth, and French international Eliesse Ben Seghir Akliouche are all available, though their form has been inconsistent.
For Manchester City, Pep Guardiola must also manage several injury concerns. Rayan Aït-Nouri, Mateo Kovačić, Rayan Cherki, and Omar Marmoush are sidelined, while Kalvin Phillips remains out of contention. The good news is that defender John Stones is expected to return, strengthening the backline.
Between the posts, former PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma should start. In attack, Erling Haaland — who netted his 50th Champions League goal against Napoli, becoming the fastest player in history to reach that milestone — remains the key threat. Around him, Guardiola can call upon Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku (two league assists and one Champions League goal), and Tijjani Reijnders, who has already contributed with both goals and assists in the Premier League.
Match Outlook
Monaco’s home games at this level tend to produce goals. In their last 20 European fixtures at Stade Louis II, only one ended 0-0. Their most recent meeting with City in Monaco saw the two sides share eight goals, a reminder of the attacking spectacle these encounters can produce.
For City, goals have been almost guaranteed in Europe. Each of their last 20 Champions League matches has featured over 2.5 goals, reflecting their relentless attacking approach and occasional defensive vulnerabilities.
Prediction
Monaco will hope to use home advantage to bounce back from their poor start, but Guardiola’s side possess superior quality and experience. With Haaland in record-breaking form and plenty of creative depth around him, City look strong favorites to take three points in what should be another high-scoring contest.
Prediction: AS Monaco 1:3 Manchester City
