monaco vs man city
In a pulsating UEFA Champions League encounter at the Stade Louis II on October 1, 2025, AS Monaco and Manchester City shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw.
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| monaco vs man city |
Erling Haaland's first-half brace looked set to secure victory for the visitors, but a late penalty from Eric Dier ensured Monaco salvaged a point in dramatic fashion.
This result leaves City with four points from their opening two matches in the league phase, while Monaco claim their first point of the campaign after a disappointing start.
Match Overview
Manchester City, under Pep Guardiola, arrived in Monaco seeking their second consecutive win following a 2-0 home victory over Napoli in Matchday 1.
Monaco, meanwhile, were eager to bounce back from a 4-1 defeat to Club Brugge in their opener.
The game lived up to expectations, with end-to-end action, stunning goals, and controversy in the dying moments.
City dominated possession with around 70% of the ball and registered 18 shots, six of which were on target.
Despite their control, they were unable to convert dominance into a comfortable lead, allowing Monaco to stay in the contest.
The hosts, deploying a low block, frustrated City and capitalized on counter-attacks, showcasing their resilience against one of Europe's elite sides.
Key Moments and Goals
The scoring opened in the 15th minute when Josko Gvardiol's precise pass found Haaland making a run across the Monaco defense.
The Norwegian striker flicked the ball over goalkeeper Philipp Kohn with an outstretched boot, marking his 51st Champions League goal in just 50 appearances.
Monaco responded swiftly, equalizing just three minutes later through Jordan Teze.
The defender unleashed a stunning long-range curling strike from the edge of the box that flew into the top corner, leaving Gianluigi Donnarumma rooted to the spot.
It was a moment of brilliance that ignited the home crowd and shifted the momentum.
City regained the lead just before halftime in the 45th minute.
Nico O'Reilly delivered a pinpoint cross, and Haaland rose highest to head home his second of the night, taking his tally to 52 goals in 50 Champions League games and 17 goals in all competitions this season.
The second half saw City continue to press, hitting the crossbar twice—first through Phil Foden's crashing shot and then via Tijjani Reijnders' effort.
Monaco threatened on the break, with Maghnes Akliouche forcing a save from Donnarumma early on.
Rodri, returning from injury, was substituted after a collision, adding to City's midfield concerns.
The drama peaked in the 90th minute when a VAR review awarded Monaco a penalty after Nico Gonzalez fouled Eric Dier during a free-kick tussle.
Amid protests from City players and a delay that saw a Monaco coach sent off, Dier calmly converted the spot-kick to level the scores.
The goal denied City their first away win in the Champions League in 12 months.
Lineups and Performances
Monaco (4-4-2):
Kohn (GK); Kehrer, Salisu, Dier, Vanderson; Teze, Coulibaly, Diatta, Akliouche; Fati, Balogun.
Manchester City (3-4-2-1):
Donnarumma (GK); Stones, Dias, Gvardiol; O'Reilly, Rodri, Bernardo Silva (C), Reijnders; Foden, Doku; Haaland.
Haaland was City's standout performer, ruthless in front of goal and a constant threat.
For Monaco, Dier earned player-of-the-match honors with an average rating of 7.78, anchoring the defense before his decisive penalty.
Teze's goal and Akliouche's creativity also shone through.
Post-Match Reactions
Erling Haaland expressed frustration, stating that City "did not play well enough" and "lacked energy," particularly in the second half where Monaco gained more control.
He emphasized the need for improvement despite their first-half dominance.
Pep Guardiola reportedly remarked on the officiating, hinting at inconsistencies but focusing on his team's failure to kill off the game.
Implications and Looking Ahead
This draw extends City's unbeaten run to six games but highlights their struggles in away European fixtures, with no wins in their last five Champions League road trips.
For Monaco, the point boosts morale, maintaining their strong home record against English teams (only one loss in eight Champions League games).
Next up, Monaco host Nice in Ligue 1 on October 5, while City face Brentford away in the Premier League on the same day.
Both sides will aim to build on this result as the Champions League league phase intensifies.
This match echoed their memorable 2017 encounter, where Monaco edged City 6-6 on aggregate via away goals, but on this occasion, neither side could claim supremacy in a game full of twists and high-quality football.