Manchester City face a challenging midweek fixture as they travel to the Stade Louis II to take on Monaco in the UEFA Champions League.
While Pep Guardiola's side are the favourites, a deep dive into the history books reveals a shocking statistic that should give every City supporter cause for concern.
The club from the Principality boasts an incredible home record against English opposition, having lost only one of their seven Champions League matches against Premier League sides.
The startling statistic is a major talking point ahead of the Matchday 2 clash, which is a rematch of the dramatic 2016-17 last-16 tie.
That unforgettable fixture saw the French side knock City out of the competition on away goals, making the Stade Louis II a place of historical caution for the English champions.
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The shock record against Premier League clubs
In seven matches against English teams in the Champions League, Monaco have recorded five wins, one draw, and just one defeat.
Their home victories include:
1-0 vs Liverpool (2004-05)
2-1 vs Tottenham (2016-17)
1-0 vs Aston Villa (2024-25)
The club's only defeat came against Arsenal in 2015, which did not stop the French side from progressing in the competition.
This run is a clear indication that the French side knows how to deal with the intensity and style of play of Premier League clubs.
The historical fear of a French collapse
The reason this statistic is particularly concerning for Manchester City fans is the historical context.
The previous meeting between the two clubs in the 2016-17 season saw Monaco advance on away goals after a 6-6 aggregate score.
Despite City winning the home leg 5-3, they collapsed to a 3-1 defeat in the second leg at Stade Louis II, a loss that condemned Pep Guardiola to his first trophyless season in England.
Monaco is one of only two teams to have eliminated a Guardiola team in the Champions League before the quarter-finals.
Furthermore, the search results highlight that both of Guardiola's Champions League defeats on Matchday 1 or 2 have come against French teams.
This French weakness, coupled with Monaco's exceptional home record, suggests that City might be up against it on Wednesday.
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