Monaco vs. Man City lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest with Rodri fit to play

Manchester City face AS Monaco in their second match of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League on October 1 at Stade Louis II.

After securing an impressive 5-1 win against Burnley over the weekend, City sit seventh in the Premier League with 10 points from seven matches, five points down on leaders Liverpool. Pep Guardiola's side also bagged a 2-0 victory against Napoli in their opening game of the Champions League.

Monaco, meanwhile, are fourth in the Ligue 1 table with 12 points after four wins and two losses. They were on the receiving end of a 4-1 defeat to Belgian side Club Brugge in their first game of the Champions League.

Man City and Monaco have been pitted against each other in two Champions League games before, with both sides securing one win each at their respective home grounds. That came as part of an engrossing 6-6 aggregate draw in the knockout phase of the 2016/17 tournament.

Monaco vs. Man City lineups: Predicted starting XI, team news, injury latest

Monaco will be without midfielder Lamine Camara, who sustained an ankle injury over the weekend. Their midfield will also be missing Denis Zakaria due to a groin injury and Aleksandr Golovin, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.

The Monegasques' first-choice goalkeeper, Lukas Hradecky, has also been sidelined with a knee injury.

Monaco fans are awaiting Paul Pogba's debut, and the match against Man City could be a perfect one for the Frenchman. However, reports have suggested that the 32-year-old is struggling with fitness and is likely to need a couple of weeks more to be completely ready to take the pitch.

Barcelona loanee Ansu Fati has scored four goals after coming off the bench in Monaco's last three games across competitions, which could lead to head coach Adi Hutter handing the 22-year-old his first start in the upcoming clash.

Monaco predicted starting XI (4-4-2, right to left): Kohn (GK) — Vanderson, Dier, Kehrer, Caoi Henrique — Akliouche, Coulibaly, Teze, Fati — Balogun, Biereth

Injured: Zakaria (groin), Hradecky (knee), Pogba (fitness, doubt), Golovin (hamstring), Camara (ankle)
Suspended: None

City's stellar display in their last league game saw Rodri missing in action, followed by Guardiola confirming that the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner experienced discomfort in the knee that was injured last campaign.

Rodri suffered a cruciate ligament tear in September last year and was sidelined for over 200 days, missing 53 games for club and country. The 29-year-old is having to be careful with his workload, but Guardiola said he is ready to face Monaco.

City will be without Omar Marmoush, Rayan Ait-Nouri, and Abdukodir Khusanov due to their respective injuries. Rayan Cherki is also expected to sit this game out as he recovers from a thigh problem.

After hitting a few bumps at the beginning of the campaign, Man City have been performing well as of late and would be looking to continue their recent good form.

Man City predicted starting XI (4-1-4-1, right to left): Donnarumma (GK) — Nunes, Stones, Gvardiol, O'Reilly — Rodri — Foden, Silva, Reijnders, Doku — Haaland

Injured: Cherki (thigh, doubt), Marmoush (knee), Ait-Nouri (ankle), Khusanov (ankle)
Suspended: None

Monaco vs. Man City match details

• Date: Wednesday, October 1, 2025 
• Kickoff time: 9:00 p.m. local / 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 5 a.m. AEST (October 2)
• Location: Stade Louis II (Monaco)
• Competition: UEFA Champions League league phase matchday two
• Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano (ESP)
• VAR: Cesar Soto Grado (ESP)