Manchester City welcome Monaco to the Etihad tonight as Pep Guardiola looks to continue City's resurgence which has seen them close the gap on Premier League leaders Chelsea to eight points. Despite the bookmakers making the home side clear favourites, they face an in form Monaco side who arrive in Manchester without having lost a game in 2017.
Monaco form
Monaco head into the game having not lost since before Christmas, scoring 31 goals in the last 10 games. They've only lost three games in the league all season and sit top of the table, three points ahead of PSG, continuously the French Champions elect before the season even starts.
They've got a rejuvenated Radamel Falcao to thank for their goalscoring streak, who's starting to find his Porto legs after a disappointing spell on the red half of Manchester. He's scored 19 goals in all competitions this season. He's been backed up by fellow strikers Valere Germain, Guido Carillo and 18 year old Kylian Mbappé, who Thierry Henry has praised in his pre-match chatter.
Manchester City form
City go into the game after a string of strong results. Ignoring the Huddersfield result with a much changed side, City have won four of their last five in the league and at home are looking like they could break down any defence. They're patient with the ball and because of their overriding possession stats, it allows Yaya Toure to be even more influential when he doesn't have to break a sweat defending.
Guardiola continues to be without stalwart and captain Vincent Kompany, who picked up a minor leg injury in training. Gael Clichy is a fresh doubt while Jesus (metatarsal) and Gundogan (knee) remained sideline, likely until the end of the season.
They'll be relying on key man Sergio Aguero, who has been the beneficiary of Gabriel Jesus's injury.
If there's a time to show Guardiola that he should be starting ahead of Jesus then that time is now. He'll be disappointed he couldn't make an impact in the FA Cup game against Huddersfield at the weekend, a game in which Pep will have been hoping he could get back in amongst the goals.
He'll likely line up in front of Kevin De Bruyne, who only featured for the last 20 minutes in that game, Raheem Sterling and David Silva, the latter left out completely from weekend action.
Yaya Toure is also expected to return after skipping the game.
City predicted XI: Caballero; Stones, Otamendi, Kolarov; Fernandinho, Toure, Sterling, Sane, De Bruyne, Silva; Aguero
Predicted score: Manchester City 2-1 Monaco
For all Monaco's good work in Ligue 1, they won't have come up against an attacking line like City's, even when they played PSG (yes I understand the irony after they drubbed Barca 4-0). City's defence is still unconvincing, however at times it is beginning to look a little more solid. Saying that, I wouldn't be surprised if Monaco knock four past it. City win, Aguero to score but Monaco to make life hard, keeping themselves well within the tie going into the second leg.
