Uefa Champions League: Attack the best form of defence for Monaco and Manchester City

Richard Jolly previews the Uefa Champions League last 16 second leg tie between Monaco and Manchester City.

The goal threat provided by Kylian Mbappe, left, and Radamel Falcao give Monaco a chance of overturning the first leg deficit against Manchester City. Eric Gaillard / Reuters

Uefa Champions League, Round of 16, second leg: Monaco (3) v Manchester City (5), Stade Louis II, Wednesday 11.45pm (UAE)

It was, until Barcelona's 6-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain provided a challenge, surely the game of the season, arguably not just in the Uefa Champions League, but across Europe.

In the aftermath of Manchester City's 5-3 defeat of Monaco in February, with most still reeling from the breathless excitement, Pep Guardiola promised more of the same.

“We are not going to defend that result,” he said, promising City would not play for a goalless draw on Wednesday and suggesting that if they did, they would not succeed.

“If one team can score a thousand million goals, it’s Monaco,” he added, with just a hint of exaggeration.

The Ligue 1 leaders scored three at the Etihad Stadium and, had Willy Caballero not saved first Radamel Falcao’s penalty and then the Colombian’s late penalty, it would have been five.

Since then, Monaco have taken their tally this season to 123 goals. And yet, despite Guardiola’s words three weeks ago, it could be presented as irresistible force meeting immovable object.

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City have been criticised for their defending at times this season but they have set a club record on the road, going six consecutive away games without conceding in Premier League and FA Cup action.

Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Bournemouth, Huddersfield Town, Sunderland and Middlesbrough do not possess Monaco’s potency but they have been repelled.

They could do with replicating their resistance from earlier games on the road.

“The most important thing is to defend better than we did in the first leg,” Caballero told City’s club website.

Falcao presented a problem then, and the former Manchester United striker is expected to overcome a hip problem to start.

Another to trouble City was 18-year-old Kylian Mbappe, who has taken his tally to eight goals in his last five starts.

While Pablo Zabaleta excelled at the Riverside, the chances are that Bacary Sagna will be recalled to deal his fellow Frenchman.

Yet this should not be a rearguard action. Lyon are the only visitors to have won at the Stade Louis II this season, but City have the incentive to be adventurous.

Monaco are without their best defender, the suspended Kamil Glik. Their full-backs are so forward-thinking that Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane have the potential to enjoy themselves on either flank.

“The best defence is to try to score,” said the former Monaco midfielder Yaya Toure, echoing Guardiola’s words last month. “We are going to attack.”

It will be instructive precisely how attack-minded the manager is.

Fernandinho began the first leg at left-back, partly because Gael Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov were both out, but ought to return to the midfield.

Guardiola is invariably scrutinised, but there are other reasons to study the City manager. He tends to deflect talk that it is about him, but is trying to extend a personal record of reaching at least the semi-finals in each of his seven previous attempts.

It will be his 100th European game as a manager. Louis van Gaal, with 61, has recorded most victories in a first century. A City victory would be Guardiola’s 62nd triumph.

One way or another, it promises to be a historic occasion. Monaco may sense echoes of 2004, when they trailed Real Madrid 4-2 after the first leg, progressed and went on reach the final.

City should draw encouragement from their first foray to the last four in 2016, which included a 2-2 draw against Ligue 1’s finest, in the shape of Paris Saint-Germain. It has given them confidence.

Sights have been raised, ambitions are being declared. “I think we can reach the final,” said a confident Kevin de Bruyne.

To do so, however, City will have to hold their nerve in what could be another thriller.

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