There have been some high scoring and thrilling matches in the 2016/17 Champions League Round of 16 this season. The pick of the first leg games saw Manchester City defeat Monaco 5-3 at the Etihad Stadium, in a game where both teams excelled in forward areas but struggled defensively. Will we be in for more of the same at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday night, as Monaco attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit?
Following the first leg on the 21st February, both teams have enjoyed a good run of form in their domestic competitions. Trends show Monaco have won all three of their Ligue 1 matches, a run which was good enough to see them maintain their spot at the top of the division. Leonardo Jardim’s team also won their Coupe de France Round of 16 tie away to Marseille, needing extra-time to go through. The goals have been flowing for Monaco and they have scored 12 in their previous four matches.
Manchester City have also played four matches since the first leg of this tie and won three of them, against Huddersfield Town and Middlesbrough in the FA Cup and Sunderland in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s team suffered one disappointing result, which was a 0-0 home draw with Stoke City in the Premier League, a result which allowed Chelsea to tighten their grip at the top of the table. Therefore, the Champions League and FA Cup remain Guardiola’s best chance of picking up a trophy in his first season at Manchester City.
Monaco have three away goals to their name and in most circumstances, this would be a telling aspect of this tie. However, with so many goals having been scored in the first leg and more expected in the second, it remains to be seen whether away goals will have an influence on the outcome.
The telling factor in terms of who will progress, could be the fact Monaco are at home for the second leg. At home in the Champions League, Monaco are undefeated in their last eight matches, including victories over Tottenham Hotspur, Villarreal and Valencia. Manchester City on the other hand, have been struggling on the road in Europe’s premier club competition. The Citizens have won only three of their last nine away from home and just one of the last six, which was against Steaua Bucharest in the qualifying round. Manchester City failed to win any of their three away group games this season, drawing two and losing 4-0 in Barcelona.
Ordinarily, you would expect any team who were heading into the second leg of a Champions League tie with a two-goal cushion to be strong favourites to qualify. However, there is something different about this tie and there’s the feeling that anything could happen. Both teams excel going forward but struggle when put under pressure at the back.
Hold on to your hats, this could be another exciting match of end-to-end entertainment.