Manchester City face AS Monaco in their second match of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League on October 1 at Stade Louis II.
After securing an impressive 5-1 win against Burnley over the weekend, City sit seventh in the Premier League with 10 points from seven matches, five points down on leaders Liverpool. Pep Guardiola's side also bagged a 2-0 victory against Napoli in their opening game of the Champions League.
Monaco, meanwhile, are fourth in the Ligue 1 table with 12 points after four wins and two losses. They were on the receiving end of a 4-1 defeat to Belgian side Club Brugge in their first game of the Champions League.
Man City and Monaco have been pitted against each other in two Champions League games before, with both sides securing one win each at their respective home grounds. That came as part of an engrossing 6-6 aggregate draw in the knockout phase of the 2016/17 tournament.
Monaco vs. Man City lineups: Confirmed starting XI, team news, injury latest
Monaco are without midfielder Lamine Camara, who sustained an ankle injury over the weekend. Their midfield will also be missing Denis Zakaria due to a groin injury and Aleksandr Golovin, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The Monegasques' first-choice goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky, has also been sidelined with a knee injury, with Philipp Kohn starting between the posts.
Monaco fans are awaiting Paul Pogba's debut, and the match against Man City felt like a perfect date on the calendar. However, reports have suggested that the 32-year-old is struggling with fitness and the ex-Manchester United star is not involved.
Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati has scored four goals after coming off the bench in Monaco's last three games across competitions, and head coach Adi Hutter has handed the 22-year-old his first start for the club.
Monaco starting XI (3-4-3, right to left): Kohn (GK) — Kehrer, Dier, Salisu — Vanderson, Teze, Coulibaly, Diattai — Akliouche Balogun, Fati
Injured: Zakaria (groin), Hradecky (knee), Pogba (fitness), Golovin (hamstring), Camara (ankle)
Suspended: None
City's stellar display in their most recent league game saw Rodri missing in action, followed by Guardiola confirming that the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner experienced discomfort in the knee that was injured last campaign.
Rodri suffered a cruciate ligament tear in September last year and was sidelined for over 200 days, missing 53 games for club and country. The 29-year-old is having to be careful with his workload, but Guardiola selected him from the start.
City are without Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Abdukodir Khusanov due to their respective injuries. Rayan Cherki is also expected to sit this game out as he recovers from a thigh problem.
John Stones comes into the defence, presumably at right-back, while City captain Bernardo Silva gets a start against his former club.
Man City starting XI (4-1-4-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Stones, Dias Gvardiol, O'Reilly — Rodri — Foden, Silva, Reijnders, Doku — Haaland
Injured: Cherki (thigh Marmoush (knee), Ait-Nouri (ankle), Khusanov (ankle)
Suspended: None
Monaco vs. Man City match details
- Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025
- Kickoff time: 9:00 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 5 a.m. AEST (October 2)
- Location: Stade Louis II (Monaco)
- Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase matchday two
- Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP)
- VAR: Cesar Soto Grado (ESP)
Champions League news and related links
- Champions League predictions, latest betting and odds for 2025/26 season as group-stage draw is made
- Guardiola sheds light on Man City star Rodri's injury setback after long-term absence
- Chelsea vs. Benfica lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injures as Mourinho returns