AS Monaco – Manchester City: City’s Slackened Phases Prevent The Victory (2-2)

Manchester City continue to search for their old standards as the team to beat in the English elite. Two of their attackers again pointed to what a fruitful future could hold in the final third, but the collective is far from the finished article and conveyed their flaws again in this fixture.

Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

Monaco maintain a competitive stake in Ligue 1 as one of the best of the rest behind PSG. Apart from the domestic cup competition, European exploits seem the best way to turn the campaign into one to remember. However, the team have lost five of their last seven Champions League games, including a 4-1 battering at Club Brugge a fortnight ago. Though their position at the bottom of the standings counted for little at the end of the first matchday, it means one less chance to get the ball rolling.

Manchester City continue to search for their status as conquerors again after a catastrophic collapse at the end of 2024. The wounds from last season have not fully healed, but momentum is moving forward. A 3-0 derby day defeat of Manchester United was the first big step before a dogged defensive display in a 1-1 draw at Arsenal.