FORECAST: Monaco vs Barcelona Matchup
Monaco and Barcelona will lock horns in the Champions League fixture at Stade Louis II, marking a significant step up for the French side. This will be the fifth encounter between the two clubs in the UEFA Champions League, with Barcelona holding a slight advantage in the head-to-head record.
Historically, Barcelona has won two matches and Monaco two, with no draws. The aggregate goals stand at Monaco 4, Barcelona 5. The most recent encounter was in the 2024/2025 Champions League group phase, where Monaco defeated Barcelona 2-1 at home.
In the early 1990s, Barcelona dominated the series, winning both matches in the 1993/1994 Group A stage. However, Monaco has shown a resurgence in recent official matches, with a 2-1 win over Barcelona in the Champions League group phase.
The upcoming fixture presents a challenge for Monaco, who are currently on an unbeaten run of four games, including a 3-0 victory over Auxerre last weekend. However, their recent home form in the Champions League is concerning, with seven consecutive defeats at the Stade Louis II.
Barcelona, on the other hand, have had a strong start to their league season, with five consecutive wins and 17 goals scored. They aim to secure a third consecutive victory in the Champions League, but their recent performances must improve.
Barcelona will be without key players such as Ronald Araujo, Dani Olmo, Fermin Lopez, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Andreas Christensen due to injuries. Monaco, on the other hand, will welcome back Lamine Camara after he was cleared from concussion protocols.
Both teams have strong starts this season, finishing second in their respective domestic leagues last term. Monaco have won seven of their last nine encounters against Spanish teams, including a 3-0 victory over Atletico Madrid last season.
Monaco's group stage also includes matches against Benfica, Aston Villa, Inter Milan, and Arsenal. Robert Lewandowski, who has netted 94 overall Champions League goals, aims to become the third player to reach 100 during this group stage.
Barcelona have only advanced past the quarterfinals once since their 2015 Champions League triumph. They have won just two of their last nine matches in France. This fixture against Monaco presents an opportunity for both teams to make a statement in the group stage.
[1] Including home and away statistics in official Champions League games, Monaco's home record is stronger, with a 2-1 win, while Barcelona has managed a win at home in the past.
- The upcoming Champions League fixture between Monaco and Barcelona will be a test for the French team, especially considering their recent home form in the European leagues has seen seven consecutive defeats at Stade Louis II.
- With Robert Lewandowski aiming to score his 95th and potentially 100th Champions League goal during this group stage, Monaco's matches against teams like Barcelona, Benfica, Aston Villa, Inter Milan, and Arsenal could be decisive in their bid to advance further in the competition.
