Champions League
2025-10-01 - Monaco vs Manchester City
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: UEFA Champions League
Wednesday 1st October 2025 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Monaco
Chasing down Paris Saint-Germain in the French top flight is going to be a huge challenge for every Club in the Division and Monaco are no different. They have had a mixed start to the domestic campaign, while Monaco have also suffered a big defeat to open the Champions League Group Stage and that means playing catch up after one single fixture has been completed.
An early Penalty was missed by Monaco in Brugge, but they were completely overwhelmed by the hosts and were 3-0 down at half time on their way to a thumping 4-1 loss. They did finish 13th in the Champions League Group last season, which meant barely missing out on being Seeded for the Play Off in the Knock Out Rounds, and Monaco won 3 of 5 home matches in the competition.
Monaco have lost 2 of their last 3 games in all competitions, although both of those defeats were suffered away from home. This is not only a team unbeaten in 9 at home in all competitions, but Monaco have won 8 of those matches including all 3 played this season.
Early injuries have piled up within the Monaco squad and that has perhaps contributed to the inconsistencies we have been seeing.
Manchester City
The performances may not be perfect, but Pep Guardiola will be happy with the results that have given Manchester City some momentum and they will be hoping to keep that through to the October international break. The failure to finish in the top eight was a disappointment in the Champions League last season and so there is going to be more focus on this competition alongside the Premier League.
It was actually an even tougher campaign in the Champions League than merely failing to finish in the top eight and Manchester City needed a big result at the end of January to even earn a spot in the Knock Out Rounds. Just 11 points were earned in the League Phase from the eight games played, but Manchester City have made a positive start to this season's competition with a 2-0 victory over Napoli on Match Day 1.
Manchester City are unbeaten in 5 games in all competitions and they have won 4 of those matches after the 5-1 victory over Burnley this past weekend. The majority of those games have been played at home and Manchester City had lost at Brighton and drawn at Arsenal before beating Huddersfield Town in the League Cup Third Round.
A number of players continue to miss time for Manchester City and are unlikely to be available before the October international break.
Head to Head
The only previous meeting between Monaco and Manchester City was in the Knock Out Rounds of the 2016/17 Champions League.
It was Monaco who came through on Away Goals having won the Second Leg 3-1 here after losing 5-3 in Manchester.
Prediction
The Monaco midfield looks like it will be short of numbers for this second Champions League game and that may make it very difficult for the home team as they bid to bounce back from the thumping 4-1 loss at Club Brugge on Match Day 1.
Home form has been strong over several months and Monaco have won 8 of their last 9 games here, which deserves respect.
However, Benfica won twice at Monaco in the Champions League last season and this Manchester City team have momentum behind them after a good run between international breaks.
Pep Guardiola's team have not looked perfect, but wins will build up confidence and Manchester City have won 4 of their last 5 games. Bringing that form into an away game is the challenge with two of those to be played before the October international break, but Manchester City may be able to control the fixture through the midfield.
With Erling Haaland opening the season in stunning form, Manchester City can back up the victory over Napoli by earning another as they look to make this a more comfortable League Phase than last season.
They may need to score at least twice to beat Monaco, who have been strong at home, but Manchester City look capable of doing that as they look for another three points.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Monaco 1-2 Manchester City
