A dramatic late equaliser from Eric Dier secured a hard-fought draw for AS Monaco against Manchester City, as Adi Hutter’s side earned their first point in this season’s Champions League at the Stade Louis II on Wednesday (2-2).

Hutter said that his side would have to “suffer a lot” against Manchester City, and he was proven right in what was an attritional, confidence-boosting win for the Principality club. The Monaco manager has bemoaned performances all season, even when there has been the result to soften the blow. And whilst Les Monégasques didn’t secure the win against their Premier League opponents, it almost felt as though they did.

“A big, big praise for every single player. We never gave up. We left our heart on the pitch and this also makes us proud […] It was our most complete 90 minutes [of the season],” said Hutter. Much of the game was spent without the ball. Manchester City, as they so often do, dominated possession, and they weren’t lacking in incision either.

Haaland with 52 goals in 50 Champions League games

Erling Haaland, in his 50th Champions League appearance, netted with the Cityzens’ first real chance, latching onto a Josko Gvardiol dink over the defence and finishing with a deft chip. However, Monaco immediately came out of their shell and equalised just three minutes later through Jordan Teze, who scored the best goal of his career, rifling an effort into the top corner from the edge of the box.

But once Manchester City refound their rhythm, their possessional and territorial dominance resumed. Phil Foden hit the crossbar, Tijjani Reijnders dragged a shot just wide, Nico O’Reilly forced Philipp Kohn into a save, and the Swiss goalkeeper was busy again as half-time approached, as he palmed a Reijnders shot out but straight to the predatory Haaland, who couldn’t turn home the rebound from a tight angle.

But two minutes later, and with just his seventh touch of the game, he did get his second, outjumping Mohammed Salisu and putting a bullet header past Kohn.

It was more of the same in the second half. Maghnes Akliouche forced former PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma into a strong save, low to his left, but the majority of the chances came for Pep Guardiola’s men. Reijnders struck the woodwork, and Haaland, on a hat-trick, forced the busy Kohn into action once again.

A surprise penalty taker for Monaco

However, in failing to put Monaco away, Manchester City were always vulnerable, and the visitors were then made to pay for their missed chances. Dier received a shin in the face inside the box. To the surprise of everyone, it was the Englishman who dusted himself off to tuck away the penalty himself. “I don’t think that Donnarumma expected it to be Dier who took the penalty. He is a safe kicker with his age and experience,” said Hutter post-match, revealing that Dier was the second-choice penalty taker, behind Ansu Fati, who had already come off.

“We deserved the point,” said a contented Hutter. The victory is not only important for Monaco’s hopes of progressing in the Champions League, for their confidence heading into the Côte d’Azur derby, but also for Hutter’s own job security amid questions around his future at the club. “I can understand the criticism… but on the other hand, I am convinced that my players are behind me,” said the Monaco manager. That was certainly evident against Manchester City.

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Photo source: AS Monaco