In amongst a number of attractive Champions League fixtures taking place on Wednesday evening is Manchester City's trip to Monaco.
Although the league standings for the premier European competition currently places the team from the principality 34th out of 36 teams, a far more accurate guide as to Monaco's form would be formed by perusing the Ligue 1 table, where Adi Hutter's side sit fourth, just three points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
Only the second meeting between the two sides
This will be just the second meeting between the two sides with the last one coming in the Round of 16 in the 2016/17 campaign.
On that occasion Pep Guardiola's side were dumped out on away goals after a 6-6 aggregate score. Despite City winning 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium, they lost 3-1 at the Stade Louis II.
That result meant that the French side became just the second side - Real Madrid being the other in the 2024/25 playoff, to knock out a team managed by Guardiola prior to the quarter-final stage of the UCL.
Were they to lose again on Wednesday, it will be just the third time Pep has lost his first two away games against an opponent, the other instances coming against his former club Barcelona in October 2016 and vs Liverpool in January 2018.
Monaco have lost once in seven at home to English teams
City might well be up against it too, given that in seven home matches against English teams in the Champions League, Monaco have lost just once - against Arsenal in 2015 (0-2). They've also drawn once and won the other five.
It's the first time that City captain, Bernardo Silva, will return to the club where he made his name and from whom Pep bought him. Since then, the Portuguese midfielder has gone on to make 414 appearances and won 17 trophies.
He wasn't the only top-class player that Monaco lost at the end of that 16/17 season either, with Kylian Mbappe undoubtedly being the highest profile departure.
Having won just once in their last seven Champions League matches the French side come into the match in poor European form. Five of those seven games have been lost with the first game in their 2025/26 UCL campaign seeing a surprising 4-1 loss to Club Brugge.
That was one of three defeats of three goals or more, and up against a rampaging Erling Haaland - who has nine goals in his last seven games - that has to be a worry for Hutter and Co.
Particularly when you consider that although they've managed to score 12 in the last five matches in all competitions, they've also conceded exactly that amount.
Haaland in superb goalscoring form
Haaland et al are not going to need asking twice if opportunities present themselves, and Phil Foden could also be instrumental on the night.
Against Napoli he created eight chances, which is the most in an opening game of the tournament since 2021/22 when Shakhtar Donetsk’s Maycon also created eight (vs Sheriff Tiraspol).
At the other end, City's defence need to be on their guard too against a revitalised Ansu Fati.
The 22-year-old, on loan from Barcelona, was once thought of as the natural successor to Lionel Messi, before injuries blighted his time at the Camp Nou and Lamine Yamal took on the mantle in the meantime.
In Folarin Balogun and Mika Biereth they have two players who have experienced life at an English football club - in their case Arsenal - and Eric Dier also has his time at Tottenham to draw upon for inspiration.
Paul Pogba isn't yet fit enough to play, whilst midfielder Lamina Camara, who had the most line-breaking passes (15) in the loss against Club Brugge, won possession the most times (10) and also made the most tackles (4), is also out.
Rodri a big miss for City
For the visitors, all of Rayan Cherki, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Abdukodir Khusanov and Rodri aren't expected to feature, and whilst City do have strength in depth, clearly Guardiola would prefer to be able to pick from a full squad.
The Spanish international is always a big miss for his side and the 17 line-breaking passes made against Napoli in the first round of fixtures was the second most of any midfielder in any game during that week.
City can't afford to take any chances with his fitness, however, and the knee issue that meant he didn't play against Burnley is likely to sideline him here.
Injuries aside, it won't be lost on Guardiola that his side have lost their last four away matches in the competition, and whilst it's still early enough in the league stage to bounce back from the odd defeat, the Catalan will want to ensure that his side approach the game in the right manner.
It's a game that promises goals and is bound to be an entertaining spectacle, though both managers will surely settle for a more businesslike performance if it means earning three valuable points.
