Overview
Barcelona is showing a destructive form when winning all since the beginning of the 2024-2025 season. In each match, Blaugrana scored no less than 2 goals. They had impressive victories such as 7-0 against Real Valladolid and 4-1 against Girona.
With their current form, the Blaugrana are clearly keen to repay their debt against Monaco when the two teams meet in the group stage of this year's Champions League. In the Joan Gamper final in August 2024, the Ligue 1 representative defeated Barca with a score of 3-0. Therefore, the upcoming match will be an opportunity for coach Hansi Flick's team to take revenge.
Since winning the Champions League in 2015, Barca have only reached the quarter-finals once. They have been eliminated from the group stage twice in 2021 and 2022.
This is in complete contrast to the achievements that Barca achieved in their glorious years. At that time, they reached the semi-finals 10 times in 15 campaigns from 1999 to 2015.
No player currently playing in the Champions League has scored more goals than Robert Lewandowski. The Polish striker has scored 94 goals in 120 appearances in the tournament.
However, Monaco are also showing good form in Ligue 1 with 3 wins and 1 draw in their first 4 matches. However, in many aspects, they are still rated lower than the Catalan giants. It is very difficult for the French representative to defeat Barca again, even a draw is a difficult task for Monaco.
Head-to-head record
Monaco and Barcelona have faced each other 3 times in history. Barcelona won 2 and lost 1 to Ligue 1. In the last meeting, Monaco beat Barcelona 3-0.
5 of Barcelona's last 6 matches in the Champions League have had more than 2.5 goals scored.
Personnel situation
Gavi at Barca is still recovering from a serious knee injury in November 2023. Meanwhile, Frenkie de Jong has been out since April with an ankle injury.
Ronald Araujo has also not competed since Copa America 2024 in July and will be out until January next year. Dani Olmo has just suffered an injury and is out of action for at least 5 weeks. In addition, Christensen and Fermin Lopez are also unable to play.
On the other side of the front line, goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki has suffered an ankle injury and is expected to be out until early October.
Expected lineup:
AS Monaco: Kohn, Vanderson, Kehrer, Mawissa Elebi, Caio Henrique, Camara, Zakaria, Akliouche, Minamino, Ben Seghir, Embolo.
Barcelona: Ter Stegen, Kounde, I. Martinez, Lenglet, Balde, Casado, Gundogan, Christensen, OImo, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
The match between AS Monaco and Barcelona takes place at 2:00 am on September 20 (Vietnam time).
