2 Monaco vs 1 FC Barcelona
|
|
|
|---|---|
| Bet | FC Barcelona |
| Stake | 1 unit |
| Odds | 1.78 |
| Bookmaker | betsson |
Barcelona to begin revamped UCL campaign against Monaco.
AS Monaco's fine domestic form faces a daunting test as they host a red-hot Barcelona in a high-stakes UEFA Champions League clash at Stade Louis II.
Monaco
A 3-0 win over Auxerre left Monaco [WWDW] with a four-game unbeaten run. They are currently the third-best side in Ligue 1, just behind 2nd-placed Marseille and league leaders PSG.
Monaco’s fine form will surely come in handy as they welcome red-hot Barcelona for their maiden fixture in the league phase of the revamped UEFA Champions League. This will be the third meeting between both sides in the UCL, with the last encounter ending in back-to-back defeats for Monaco after a 2-0 and 1-0 loss in the 1993/94 edition of the competition.
While hoping to avoid three successive defeats against the five-time UCL champions, a poor home record in the competition could see Monaco continue to tow familiar lines. The French side are on a seven-game losing run on home turf in the competition, an unimpressive record they would be hoping to put an end to.
A 4-2-3-1 formation with Embolo in attack is expected against Barcelona. Edan Diop and goalkeeper Radosław Majecki are both ruled out of this midweek encounter.
FC Barcelona
A 4-1 win over Girona at the weekend helped Barcelona extend their league winning run to five in as many games. A brace from Lamine Yamal (30’, 37’) contributed significantly as Barca crushed their city rivals in the weekend derby.
Thursday’s game against Monaco could now see the Spanish giants carry their domestic form into the UEFA Champions League. This marks their 21st consecutive season in the competition, with an impressive 71% winning rate in opening games.
The Catalans have won 20 of their 28 opening fixtures in the UEFA Champions League, a tally they aim to improve upon this season. Currently boasting 17 league goals in La Liga, Barcelona is the highest-scoring side.
This will be Barcelona’s 25th UCL match against a French outfit. With 36 teams in the league phase of the new UCL format, they will be looking to finish in the top eight to gain automatic qualification into the round of 16.
A 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Robert Lewandowski, who has scored four goals in five league appearances, is expected for this midweek clash. However, Barcelona could be without as many as eight players, including Fermín López and Dani Olmo, for Thursday’s game against Monaco.
Team form
Showing the latest five games—giving you a quick look at recent performance trends. Teams in good form tend to do well in the next match.
Team Comparison
Side-by-side assessment of team statistics, including goals, attacks, and more. This allows you to directly compare key performance metrics. Analyzing these stats can reveal patterns and strengths that might influence the outcome.