Three key stats ahead of Manchester City's Champions League tie with Monaco

By grvadmin

Following a disappointing 0-0 home draw with Championship side Huddersfield, Manchester City prepare for a crucial Champions League last-16 clash with Monaco.

A vastly improved performance will be required if the Citizens are to advance at the expense of the Ligue 1 pacesetters. Here are three key stats to assess how the tie may pan out.

Goals – 76 from 26

Monaco are leading the way in Europe’s top leagues for goals scored, amassing 76 from just 26 games, giving them a ludicrous average of almost three a match.

Embed from Getty Images

Although their Champions League average from six group games sits at a comparatively meagre 1.5 goals per game, the Ligue 1 side still topped a difficult group – ahead of Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham – outscoring them in the process.

Manchester City meanwhile shipped 10 goals in another difficult group, a joint high amongst this season’s last-16.

It will be interesting to see how Pep Guardiola approaches this 1^st leg. Recently his starting line-ups have been difficult to predict but expect City to approach the game with an attacking mentality.

Monaco will need no invitation to pile pressure on their hosts and City may have to fight fire with fire, utilising his talented attackers to outscore or at least hold off Europe’s most prolific club.