Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw by Monaco in the UEFA Champions League league stage at Stade Louis-II, as Eric Dier’s last-minute penalty cancelled out Erling Haaland’s first-half double.
City looked destined for victory after Haaland extended his extraordinary scoring record in the competition, but Monaco dug deep and snatched a point in stoppage time to maintain their impressive home run against English opposition.
Haaland the Predator
Haaland had been anonymous in the opening exchanges, failing to touch the ball for the first quarter of an hour. Yet, with trademark ruthlessness, he needed only one moment to tilt the game in City’s favour.
In the 15th minute, Josko Gvardiol clipped a delicate pass over Monaco’s back line, and Haaland pounced ahead of Eric Dier to lift a composed finish over goalkeeper Philipp Köhn.
The Norwegian’s goal was swiftly cancelled out by Monaco’s Jordan Teze, who thundered an unstoppable strike into the top corner from 20 yards just three minutes later. The leveller ignited the home crowd, but it did little to deter City’s control of possession.
Phil Foden came close to restoring the lead when he shifted the ball onto his weaker right foot only to see his curling effort smack against the crossbar.
As halftime approached, Haaland struck again. Rising high above Mohammed Salisu, the striker powered home a header from Nico O’Reilly’s teasing delivery. It was his 52nd goal in just 50 Champions League appearances, underlining his status as the competition’s most feared marksman.
Missed Chances Haunt City
Despite their dominance in possession, City were unable to kill off the game. Foden again rattled the frame of the goal, while Tijjani Reijnders also went close. Haaland, eyeing a hat-trick, unleashed a ferocious drive from distance that Köhn brilliantly tipped wide.
The missed chances proved costly. Although Monaco created little in attack, they remained resilient and were handed a lifeline in the dying minutes.
As Eric Dier challenged for a loose ball in City’s box, he was caught in the head by a reckless boot from Nico Gonzalez. Referee Jesus Gil Manzano initially waved play on but, after a lengthy VAR review at the pitchside monitor, awarded a penalty.
Following a long delay—during which tempers flared between the two benches—Dier stepped up and showed remarkable composure to slot the spot-kick past Gianluigi Donnarumma, who had been largely untroubled throughout.
Monaco Hold Firm at Home
The 2004 finalists have now lost just once in their past eight Champions League home games against English sides. Coach Adi Hütter will take encouragement from his team’s resilience, even if they were second best for much of the night.
Teze’s stunning equaliser was a rare highlight in open play, while former Arsenal forward Folarin Balogun spurned a gilt-edged chance by stretching wide at the far post. On-loan Barcelona forward Ansu Fati struggled to make an impact on his first start and was withdrawn after the hour mark.
Nevertheless, Monaco’s refusal to fold and Dier’s last-gasp heroics ensured they avoided defeat against the reigning Premier League champions.
Frustration for Guardiola
For Pep Guardiola, the draw will sting. City remain unbeaten in six games but continue to be haunted by late goals. They were pegged back in the 93rd minute against Arsenal earlier this season, and here again conceded in the 90th minute.
Worse still, City’s away record in Europe continues to concern: they have now gone five Champions League away games without victory.
Still, Haaland’s form is a silver lining. He has scored in nine of City’s ten matches this season, already amassing 17 goals for club and country. Yet his brilliance was not enough to mask the frustrations of another squandered lead.
What’s Next
Monaco turn their focus to a Ligue 1 derby clash against Nice on Sunday, while City travel to Brentford hoping to maintain their unbeaten domestic run.
For both sides, this absorbing draw leaves qualification hopes delicately poised—and for Haaland, the wait for his first Champions League hat-trick of the season continues.
