Showing character, AS Monaco snatches a draw against Manchester City | OneFootball

Trailing until the 89th minute, the Rouge et Blanc managed to equalize thanks to a penalty taken cold-bloodedly by Eric Dier to secure a point against the Sky Blues (2-2). It was a deserved draw considering the energy expended during the match.

They put in a strong showing to secure a point. Facing Manchester City on Matchday 2 of the Champions League, AS Monaco’s players put in a strong collective performance and held the Sky Blues to a 2-2 draw. The match was played at a lively Stade Louis-II, with President Dmitry Rybolovlev in attendance.

The context 📅

It’s a gala match that awaited AS Monaco with the reception of Manchester City at the Stade Louis-II, for the second matchday of the Champions League. Beaten in Bruges on Matchday One, the Rouge et Blanc were seek to achieve a real feat in order to get off the mark in the competition against the winner of the 2022 Champions League. To do this, they will be able to draw inspiration from what they had done against Barça, last season (2-1).

The XI 👥

At the start of this match, Adi Hütter maintained a three at the back system with Thilo Kehrer, Eric Dier and Mohammed Salisu. Maghnes Akliouche joined a midfield composed of Jordan Teze and Mamadou Coulibaly. Krépin Diatta played as a left-back, while Ansu Fati made his first start alongside Folarin Balogun.

The scenario 🎞

In a packed Stade Louis-II, dressed to the nines, the start of the match was balanced with Manchester City, unsurprisingly holding the ball. However, on their first chance, the Citizens opened the scoring through Erling Haaland, who went behind the defense and lobbed Philipp Köhn (0-1, 15′).

Jordan “top corner” Teze

Not resigned after this goal conceded, the Rouge et Blanc responded immediately and Jordan Teze, with a fine shot put the ball into the top corner of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s net to level the score (1-1, 18′). It was his third goal in La Diagonale and first in the competition.

Köhn is decisive at several turns

The Sky Blues then pushed and a great effort from the Monaco goalkeeper was needed, who proved decisive in front of Bernardo Silva (25′), Nico O’Reilly (37′) and Tijjani Reijnders (39′), to prevent them from taking the lead. Before that, Phil Foden had smashed the bar (33′). Unfortunately, he could do nothing about the Norwegian center forward’s diving header, as he had his brace just before the break (1-2, 44′).

The Monegasques pushed to come back…

Behind at halftime, Adi Hütter’s men got off to a good start and looked dangerous through Folarin Balogun, who narrowly missed the ball at the far post (54′), then through Maghnes Akliouche, whose shot was pushed away by Donnarumma (59′) before Mamadou Coulibaly missed the target (61′).

…until a cold-blooded Dier converts from the spot!

However, there was some caution when it came to Tijjani Reijnders’ shot which hit the bar (73′) and Haaland’s shot which was firmly pushed away by Köhn (74′). The Monaco coach then changed his system to 4-4-2 with the introductions of Pape Cabral, Mika Biereth and George Ilenikhena (82′).

It was a choice that paid off since almost immediately, Eric Dier wins and then converted a penalty after the intervention of VAR (90′, 2-2). And he showed great composure on his first attempt on the occasion of his 420th career match!

A burst of energy rewarded with a draw

Added time was seven minutes but that didn’t scare the Rogue et Blanc who resisted Manchester City to get the draw on this second day of the Champions League (2-2), and get off the mark in the competition. It was a major performance that will have to be repeated on Sunday (5:15 p.m.) in the Côte d’Azu derby. DAGHE MUNEGU !!!! 🇲🇨

Key moments 🎥

11′: Reijnders’ shot goes over Köhn’s crossbar 15′: Haaland opens the scoring by chipping the Monaco goalkeeper (0-1) 18′: Teze equalizes with a shot into the top corner (1-1) 25′: Bernardo Silva’s curling effort is easily saved by Köhn 29′: Reijnders’ left-footed shot goes wide 33′: Foden smashes the crossbar after a bit of skill 37′: Köhn is alert at his near post to deflect a shot from O’Reilly 42′: Köhn stretches well to his right to push away a shot from Reijnders 44′: Haaland scores a brace with a diving header (1-2) 54′ Balogun narrowly misses a Teze cross 59′: Donnarumma gets down quickly to deny a shot from Akliouche 73′: Reijnders also hits the crossbar 74′: A fine save from Köhn to firmly push away Haaland’s shot 90′: Dier wins and then converts a penalty after intervention from VAR (2-2)

The stat 📊

AS Monaco have lost only four of their 25 home games in all competitions since the start of last season (18W 3D). The Rouge et Blanc have also gone ten matches without defeat at the Stade Louis-II in all competitions (8 wins, 2 draws).

🗓️ Match details:

Wednesday October 1 2025 (21:oo) – Stade Louis-II

Champions League – Macthday 2: AS Monaco 2-2 Manchester City

Halftime: 1-2

Goals: Teze (18′), Dier (90′, pen) for AS Monaco; Haaland (15′), (44′) for Manchester City

Bookings: Diatta (63′) for AS Monaco; Donnarumma (39′), Rodri (57′), B. Silva (88′), Savinho (94′) for Manchester City

AS Monaco: Köhn – Kehrer ©, Dier, Salisu (Ilenikhena, 82′) – Vanderson (Ouattara, 22′), Akliouche, Teze, Coulibaly (Cabral, 82′), Diatta – Balogun, Fati (Idumbo, 64′)

Subsittutes: Lienard, Stawiecki, C.Henrique, Ouattara, Cabral, Diatta, Idumbo, Minamino, Biereth (Balogun, 81e), Ilenikhena

Manager: Adi Hütter