Two sides who endured contrasting fortunes on matchday one of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) league phase meet here, as 2004 runners-up Monaco meet 2023 winners Manchester City.
Match News and Current Form
After being thumped 4-1 on matchday one by Club Brugge, Monaco have produced a mixed bag of domestic results. A convincing 5-2 win against Metz immediately after that UCL opening round defeat suggested they were back on track, but a 3-1 weekend humbling at the hands of Lorient brought them firmly back down to earth. A return to UCL action promises little respite for a side who have lost five of their last seven games in this competition (W1, D1), but five wins from their last six home games in a European group/league phase (L1) is a much more positive omen they can cling to, as they look to stretch their unbeaten competitive home run to ten games (W8, D1).
Man City have shown signs of a return to something like the form they were once famous for since returning from the international break, posting a five-match unbeaten run (W4, D1) which was bookended by a 5-1 demolition of Burnley on Saturday. Recent history is working against them as far as extending that run goes, as City have lost their last four UCL away games. Pep Guardiola’s incredible UCL record on matchday one and two of a UCL group/league phase (W26, D5, L2) should be enough to breed confidence they can end that run, but with both reversals coming against French clubs, perhaps a seed of doubt will be planted in City heads.
Head-to-Head History
The only two prior meetings between these two came in the 2016/17 UCL, with City winning the home game 5-3, while Monaco won the reverse fixture 3-1. Monaco have only lost one of their seven UCL home matches against English sides (W5, D1).
Win ProbabilityOpta by StatsPerform
Hot Stats and Streaks
Monaco have scored 3+ goals in their three competitive home games this term.
Six of Monaco’s last seven games in all competitions saw both teams score.
Man City have opened the scoring in their last six matches.
Man City have only kept one clean sheet in their last eight UCL outings.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Ansu Fati has scored in three successive games for Monaco, with all four of his goals in that period arriving after half-time. Both of Phil Foden’s City goals this term opened the scoring in the 18th minute, and his last three in the UCL also arrived before the 20-minute mark.
