Mansion Sports – The UEFA Champions League 2025/2026 brings another high-profile clash as AS Monaco host Premier League giants Manchester City on matchday two at Stade Louis II. The encounter is scheduled for Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 21:00 local time.

This meeting pits two teams in contrasting situations. Manchester City arrive in strong form, while AS Monaco are under pressure to regain confidence after a difficult run of results.

Manchester City’s Condition Ahead of the Match

Manchester City began their Champions League campaign with a convincing 2-0 victory over Napoli at the Etihad Stadium, with goals from Erling Haaland and Jeremy Doku underscoring the potency of their frontline. 

Remarkably, City have failed to score in only two of their last 30 UEFA fixtures, a testament to their attacking consistency.

Yet, away matches remain a concern. The Citizens are currently enduring a four-game losing streak in Champions League away fixtures, something manager Josep Guardiola is determined to address in Monaco.

The squad’s fitness brings positive news, as no fresh injuries were reported following their emphatic 5-1 Premier League win over Burnley. 

Although Rodri remains doubtful with a knee problem, the majority of key players are available. Spotlight inevitably falls on Erling Haaland, who has already amassed 50 goals in just 49 Champions League appearances.

AS Monaco’s Condition Ahead of the Match

For Monaco, the challenge could hardly be greater. They opened their campaign with a 1-4 defeat to Club Brugge, conceding three goals in the first half before Ansu Fati netted a consolation strike. 

Their record of five defeats in their last seven Champions League matches highlights the struggles facing Les Monegasques.

In Ligue 1, inconsistency continues to haunt them. A 5-2 win over Metz was quickly overshadowed by a 1-3 loss to Lorient, in which Thilo Kehrer was sent off. 

Their games have been filled with goals—24 in just their last five matches—reflecting both attacking potential and defensive frailties.

Memories of their famous 2016/17 triumph over City, when Monaco advanced on away goals with a 6-6 aggregate score, still linger. However, given their current squad situation, a repeat seems highly unlikely.

Predicted Lineups for AS Monaco vs Manchester City 2025

AS Monaco (4-4-2)

• Goalkeeper: Kohn
• Defenders: Vanderson, Dier, Kehrer, Henrique
• Midfielders: Akliouche, Coulibaly, Teze, Ansu Fati
• Forwards: Balogun, Biereth
• Coach: Adi Hütter

Injury issues continue to plague Monaco. Paul Pogba is still unavailable, while Lamine Camara, Denis Zakaria, Aleksandr Golovin, and first-choice goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky are also sidelined. 

Thilo Kehrer is eligible for Champions League duty despite his domestic suspension, and Ansu Fati is expected to start after scoring four goals in his last three substitute appearances.

Manchester City (4-1-4-1)

• Goalkeeper: Donnarumma
• Defenders: Nunes, Stones, Gvardiol, O’Reilly
• Midfielders: Gonzalez; Bobb, Silva, Reijnders, Doku
• Forward: Haaland
• Coach: Josep Guardiola

City’s injury concerns are minimal, though Rodri is still awaiting clearance on his fitness. Several players, including Abdukodir Khusanov, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Omar Marmoush, and Rayan Cherki, remain unavailable. 

The attacking focus, however, will once again center on Haaland, whose goalscoring exploits in Europe continue to defy belief.

Conclusion

The match at Stade Louis II presents a pivotal test for both sides. AS Monaco must find resilience despite a depleted squad, while Manchester City aim to end their away struggles in the Champions League.

With the attacking firepower on display, the fixture promises goals, intensity, and drama. The question remains: can Monaco withstand City’s relentless attack, or will Guardiola’s men impose their dominance? 

The answer will unfold in this highly anticipated clash, highlighted by the predicted lineups for AS Monaco vs Manchester City 2025.