When AS Monaco eliminated Manchester City in the last 16 of the Champions League | OneFootball

Just over eight years ago, our Rouge et Blanc faced the Citizens for the first time in the last 16 of the Champions League, with a historic qualification at stake.

It’s something of a reunion. This Wednesday at the  Stade Louis-II (kickoff at 21:00), AS Monaco and Manchester City will meet for the third time in their history. So before facing each other again on the occasion of Matchday Two of the league phase of the Champions League, here’s a look back at their tie confrontation during the team’s epic run in 2016-2017, which saw the Rouge et Blanc qualify for the quarterfinals of the competition. Flashback 🎞️

First leg: Limit the damage 🏟️

Having won two play-off rounds and then topped Group E, which included Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham, and CSKA Moscow, Leonardo Jardim’s men had reached the last 16 of the Champions League. This saw them ready to play a high-flying duel against the English club led by Pep Guardiola, who had finished second in their group behind FC Barcelona.

A diamond in the rough shows himself

It was in a lively Etihad that the Citizens took the lead thanks to Raheem Sterling, just before the half-hour mark (1-0, 26′). But AS Monaco would show some response that evening, for the first time thanks to Radamel Falcao’s header (1-1, 31′). Then, shortly after, when Kylian Mbappé, starting for the first time in the competition, found the top corner to beat Willy Caballero (1-2, 40′)!

Otherworldly inspiration!

The Rouge et Blanc were even close to doubling the lead, but the Colombian striker’s penalty was saved (48′). Sergio Agüero seized the opportunity to equalize before the hour mark (2-2, 58′). But as if nothing were a surprise, “El Tigre” struck again with a sublime lob from the edge of the Manchester box (2-3, 61′)! The end of the match would be more challenging, as City pushed hard.

It was then that the “Kun” scored again for a double (3-3, 71′), before John Stones allowed his team to take the lead again (4-3, 77′), before a coup de grâce by Leroy Sané (5-3, 82′).

🗓️ Match details:

February 21, 2017 – Etihad Stadium

🇪🇺 Champions League – Round of 16 First Leg

Manchester City 5-3 AS Monaco

Halftime: 2-2

Goals: Sterling (26′), Agüero (30′, 71′), Stones (77′), Sane (82′) for Manchester City – Falcao (32′, 61′), Mbappe (40‘) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Agüero (35′), Fernandinho (40′), Otamendi (49′), Zabaleta (73′) for Manchester City; Glik (8′), Sidibé (25′), Bakayoko (55‘), Falcao (67′), Bernardo Silva (76′) and Fabinho (81’) for AS Monaco

Manchester City: Caballero, Fernandinho (Zabaleta 62′), Otamendi, Stones, Sagna, Touré, Silva ©, De Bruyne, Sané, Sterling (Navas 89′), Agüero (Fernando 87′)

Substitutes: Bravo, Zabaleta, Navas, Delph, Fernando, Nolito, Iheanacho

Manager: Pep Guardiola

AS Monaco: Subasic – Sidibé, Glik, Raggi, Mendy – Bernardo Silva (Moutinho 84′), Fabinho, Bakayoko (Dirar 88′), Lemar – Mbappé (Germain 79′), Falcao ©

Substitutes: De Sanctis, Diallo, Touré, Moutinho, Dirar, Carrillo, Germain

Manager: Leonardo Jardim

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Second leg: la RE-MON-TA-DA ! 💪

With a two-goal deficit at the start of the second leg at the foot of the Rock, the Monegasques took matters into their own hands. From the kickoff, they didn’t give their opponents a chance to breathe, until Kylian Mbappé opened the scoring after a superb team move (1-0, 8′)! The Stade Louis-II was ablaze, and would cheer once again when Fabinho brought the two teams level on aggregate (2-0, 29′).

Baka’s header!

The Rouge et Blanc would then qualify for the quarterfinals, thanks to the away goals rule. They didn’t let up and continued to pose major problems for the Sky Blues’ defense, even though the latter managed to regain control of their destiny with a goal from Leroy Sané, again (71′). AS Monaco then relied on providence, and finally earned a free kick from which Tiémoué Bakayoko headed home a furious and decisive header (3-1, 77′)!

Fontvieille exploded in joy, and the Monaco fans experienced one of the most intense moments of joy in the Club’s European history. An unforgettable moment, one that will long remain in the memories of the players, who embarked on an incredible epic run to the semi-finals that year.

🗓️ Match details

March 15, 2017 – Stade Louis-II

🇪🇺 2016-2017 Champions League – Round of 16 Second Leg

AS Monaco 3-1 Manchester City

Halftime: 2-0

Goals: Mbappé (8′), Fabinho (29′) and Bakayoko (77′) for AS Monaco; Sané (71′) for Manchester City

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