Monaco vs Manchester City Prediction: Visitors can punish hosts’ fragile defence

Monaco were comfortably beaten 4-1 at Club Brugge on matchday one of the Uefa Champions League, so they will look for improvement when they host Manchester City at Stade Louis II on Wednesday (20:00 BST, TNT Sports 2).

The Citizens were 2-0 victors at home to Napoli in their opening contest. Below you will find my Monaco vs Manchester City predictions, alongside the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

Monaco midfielder and former Manchester United man Paul Pogba is unlikely to feature in what would be a dream debut against Man City, but the Frenchman still looks a few weeks away from being fit and available.

The hosts are also having to deal with injuries to Lamine Camara (ankle), Denis Zakaria (groin), Aleksandr Golovin (hamstring) and first-choice goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky (knee).

Thilo Kehrer is available for selection despite his red card in the league defeat at Lorient last time out.

Ansu Fati, on loan from Barcelona, may be considered to start this clash after four goals in three substitute appearances for Les Rouges et Blanc.

Football Odds

Man City head here without Rayan Ait-Nouri (unspecified), Abdukodir Khusanov (ankle), Rayan Cherki (thigh) and Omar Marmoush (knee) due to injury.

Forward Erling Haaland is set to make his 50th UCL appearance here, having already broken the record for most goals in his first half-century of appearances in the competition (50 in 49).

Pep Guardiola may decide to make a couple of alterations, so Oscar Bobb and Nico Gonzalez may be drafted in to start this one.

Today's Football Fixtures

Monaco vs Manchester City Odds

Monaco are 11/2 to come out on top against City, and they have won all three home games this season.

Man City drew their latest away trip at Arsenal, and the stalemate is available at 18/5.

The visitors are 1/2 to collect the three points, and they have won four of their previous five fixtures in all competitions.

Man City have won those games by at least two clear goals and they are 5/4 (implied probability of 44.4%) to win with a -1 handicap.

Manchester City and both teams to score @ 7/4

Monaco have no issues in attack but it is their defence that is a concern. Boss Adi Hutter will try to have his side defensively tight against City but the Premier League side have the quality to break through Monaco's back line.

City landed an impressive win at home to Napoli two weeks ago and I am confident they will win here. They are in good scoring form after putting five goals past Burnley in their latest appearance, while Monaco have conceded nine goals across their last three matches.

I think covering Man City and both teams to score is a sensible selection because there have been goals at both ends in six of the hosts' seven matches this season, and I believe this trend will continue on Wednesday night.

They are having joy in the final third but their defence is suspect, while City's back line is not particularly strong, either. But I do fancy them to score more than their opponents.

Erling Haaland to score 2+ goals @ 10/3

City striker Haaland has started the season in excellent scoring form. The Norway international has nine goals in seven appearances in all competitions, with one coming in the Champions League.

Given Monaco's current defensive issues, I like the look of backing the forward to score at least two goals on Wednesday night. Haaland has already registered three braces in the Premier League this season, and I expect his pace and finishing to prove too much for Monaco to handle on this occasion.

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