SBOTOP: Erling Haaland’s Brace Not Enough as Eric Dier Strikes Late to Earn Monaco 2–2 Draw Against Wasteful Man City in Champions League Thriller

Manchester City were left frustrated in Monaco as Eric Dier’s late header denied them a perfect start to the Champions League group stage, despite Erling Haaland scoring twice from just seven first-half touches. The 2–2 draw at Stade Louis II was a pulsating encounter filled with attacking flair, defensive lapses, and a stark reminder that even Europe’s most dominant sides can pay for wasted chances.

Pep Guardiola’s men appeared in full control after Haaland’s clinical double gave them a two-goal cushion inside the first 30 minutes, but defensive complacency and missed opportunities allowed Monaco back into the game. A spirited second-half fightback from the Ligue 1 side culminated in Dier’s dramatic equalizer in the 88th minute — a moment that sent the home crowd into ecstasy and left City ruing their missed opportunities.

City Start in Cruise Control

From the opening whistle, Manchester City looked every inch the European powerhouse that lifted the Champions League trophy just two seasons ago. Their precision passing and structured pressing quickly penned Monaco deep into their own half. Guardiola’s trademark tactical control was on full display: full-backs stepping into midfield, wingers stretching the pitch, and Rodri dictating the tempo with effortless authority.

Monaco, under new manager Adi Hütter, tried to press high early on, but City’s composure under pressure made their attempts look futile. Within minutes, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden were finding pockets of space, pulling Monaco’s defenders out of shape.

The breakthrough came in the 14th minute, and it was vintage Haaland. Kyle Walker’s overlapping run freed space for Foden, whose perfectly weighted through ball found the Norwegian lurking between the centre-backs. With just his second touch of the match, Haaland opened up his body and swept the ball beyond Philipp Köhn into the far corner. A clinical finish. One chance, one goal.

The traveling fans roared in celebration, waving their light-blue flags high. Haaland’s familiar, expressionless celebration followed — arms outstretched, calm amid the chaos. It was a statement: he doesn’t need many touches to change a game.

Monaco Struggle to Contain the Beast

Monaco’s back line, marshalled by Guillermo Maripán and Wilfried Singo, found Haaland a constant nightmare. His movement was unpredictable — dropping deep to link play one moment, then bursting beyond the line the next. Grealish and Foden continually overloaded the flanks, forcing Monaco’s full-backs to choose between tracking runners or defending the cross.

In the 27th minute, City doubled their advantage. This time, it came from a familiar pattern: patience, precision, and devastating execution. Bernardo Silva, facing his former club, weaved past two defenders before slipping the ball through to Grealish. The winger cut it back first time, and Haaland, perfectly positioned, rifled home his second with a thunderous left-foot strike.

Two goals from two shots — the embodiment of efficiency. Seven touches in total, two of them ending in goals. The Norwegian machine had struck again.

“Erling doesn’t need many chances,” Guardiola said afterward. “That’s what makes him special. He lives for those moments in the box.”

The 2–0 lead seemed to signal another routine European night for City. But football, as it often does, had other ideas.

Monaco’s Response Signs of Life

To their credit, Monaco didn’t collapse. Instead, they began to grow into the game, feeding off the energy of their home support. Aleksandr Golovin started to see more of the ball, combining cleverly with Takumi Minamino and Folarin Balogun to probe City’s back line.

City, perhaps too comfortable, began to ease off their press. That slight drop in intensity gave Monaco the space they had been waiting for. Just before half-time, they found a lifeline.

In the 42nd minute, Minamino picked up possession on the right wing and whipped in a teasing cross. Balogun got across Rúben Dias and glanced a header that hit the post, only for Golovin to pounce on the rebound, firing home to make it 2–1. The stadium erupted — Monaco were back in the game.

It was a warning for City: lose focus, and even a side still rebuilding could punish them.

Guardiola’s Half-Time Frustration

As the players walked off, Guardiola’s face said it all. Despite the two-goal lead, his irritation was visible. He spent much of the interval gesturing animatedly at his defenders, particularly Dias and Gvardiol, demanding greater concentration and tighter marking.

“We lost control after the second goal,” Guardiola told BT Sport. “You cannot relax in this competition. One mistake, one lack of intensity — and you’re punished.”

Meanwhile, Haaland remained as stoic as ever, listening intently to his manager but betraying little emotion. His job was simple: finish whatever chances came his way.

Second Half City’s Wastefulness Comes Back to Haunt Them

City started the second half as they ended the first — with dominance in possession. But this time, the clinical edge of the opening period deserted them.

Within five minutes, Foden should have restored their two-goal cushion after Rodri’s clever pass found him one-on-one with Köhn, but his shot was straight at the keeper. Moments later, Grealish curled an effort inches wide after cutting in from the left.

Monaco were hanging on, but just barely. Every missed chance from City seemed to lift their belief.

In the 60th minute, Monaco nearly equalized. Golovin’s curling free-kick forced Ederson into a full-stretch save, pushing the ball onto the post before Walker cleared the danger. The home crowd, sensing a shift, grew louder with every attack.

City continued to create but couldn’t finish. Bernardo Silva saw a shot deflected just over the bar, and Haaland — in search of a hat-trick — had a rare miscue when he volleyed over from close range after a looping cross from Foden.

“We should have killed the game,” said Silva post-match. “In this competition, if you don’t take your chances, you pay the price.”

Those words proved prophetic.

Monaco Smell Blood

As the game entered its final quarter, Monaco’s belief turned into momentum. Hütter made two key substitutions — bringing on Wissam Ben Yedder and teenage midfielder Eliesse Ben Seghir — and both added fresh energy to the attack.

City, meanwhile, looked leggy. Rodri’s influence waned, and Guardiola’s decision not to rotate key players ahead of a busy Premier League schedule began to show. Monaco’s midfield trio of Fofana, Camara, and Golovin started winning second balls and driving forward with purpose.

The Sky Blues retreated deeper, perhaps overconfident that their defense could absorb the pressure. But Monaco kept pushing, roared on by a home crowd that sensed something special brewing.