UCL Preview: Monaco look to stay unbeaten
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Kicking off Matchday Three of the UEFA Champions League, AS Monaco will look to bounce back from the disappointment of only drawing against Lille at the weekend against Red Star Belgrade at the Stade-Louis II.
Unbeaten but frustrated
While Friday's draw meant that the Monégasques fell from the summit of Ligue 1 McDonald's, they did show plenty of conviction in their play, even after the sending off of Jordan Teze, and they remain unbeaten across all competitions to start the season, offering testament to the turnaround orchestrated by Adi Hütter.
For this match, the Austrian manager is likely to name a a very strong side, even if the absences of attacker Folarin Balogun and defender Mohammed Salisu are looming large. In their places, Hütter has options, with the veteran Breel Embolo likely to lead the line, and Thilo Kehrer seemingly first choice in defence.
Despite the manifest difference in the two teams' talent levels, manager Hütter was cautious in his -re-match press conference, saying, "Everything is possible in the Champions League and tomorrow is a really, really big game for us... Tomorrow our focus is fully on Crvena Zvezda. It's a tough and interesting game."
Minamino will always find a way 😏🇯🇵 pic.twitter.com/ZwYquynJFv
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) October 20, 2024
A strong challenge
For their part, Red Star (also known as FK Crvena zvezda) are also unbeaten, at least domestically, to start the season, having racked up ten wins and a draw from their first eleven league matches. In Europe, they've fared more poorly, however, having lost at home to Benfica and suffering a heavy loss away to Inter Milan in the previous matchday.
They will, however, being wholly cognizant of the task in front of them, with manager Vladan Milojevic saying, "Monaco are playing some great football this season. Adi Hütter has changed the team's DNA. He plays with a lot of dynamism and energy, and the players have evidently welcomed his ideas; they are full of confidence.
Predicted lineups:
AS Monaco: (4-2-3-1) Majecki; Vanderson, Singo, Kehrer, Caio Henrique; Zakaria, Camara; Akliouche (or Minamino), Golovin, Ben Seghir; Embolo
Red Star: (4-2-3-1): M. Ilic; Seol, Djiga, Spahic, Rodic; Krunic, Elsnik; Maksimovic, L. Ilic, Silas; Katai.
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