Monaco 2-2 Manchester City Player Ratings: Erling Haaland Rated 8.5/10 as His Brace Was Not Enough in Dramatic 2-2 Draw

Manchester City looked to have this match sealed, but Monaco showed why they are also in the tournament of elite clubs of Europe. They snatch a point right at the death with Eric Dier's penalty. Fixture felt like more than just a group stage game; it had the intensity of a knockout tie. City drew first blood, as you'd expect, with the Norwegian striker Erling Haaland finishing a swift move in the 15th minute. He looked unstoppable.

But French club Monaco didn't crumble. Instead, they hit back almost immediately with an absolute thunderbolt from J. Teze. It was a goal out of nowhere and completely changed the atmosphere. City, however, regained their composure, and just before halftime, Haaland popped up again to nod them back in front.

The second half was a tense, cagey affair. City hit the woodwork twice, through Phil Foden and Tijjani Reijnders, and you felt a third goal was coming. But Monaco held on, defended for their lives, and then, the drama. A late penalty, calmly dispatched by Eric Dier, sent the home fans into delirium and left City stunned. A 2-2 draw was probably a fair result given the spirit Monaco showed.

Herea are Monaco vs Manchester City Player Ratings

Manchester City Player Ratings vs Monaco

Here are Manchester City Player Ratings vs Monaco

Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Donnarumma - 6.0: He couldn't do anything about the wonder strike from Teze or the perfectly placed penalty. He made one decent save but also got a needless yellow card. From our perspective, it was a quiet night where he was beaten by two unstoppable shots. Not much he could have done differently.

Defenders

Rúben Dias - 6.5: A standard, solid performance from Dias. He was strong in his duels and made several crucial clearances. However, he was part of a defence that conceded twice and he committed a couple of clumsy fouls. He led the line well but wasn't at his imperious best.

John Stones - 6.5: He was comfortable in possession, recycling the ball effectively as he always does. The team seemed to lose a bit of their defensive shape after he was substituted. It felt like his calm presence was missed in those frantic final minutes of the match.

Josko Gvardiol - 7.5: We were really impressed with him. He provided a brilliant assist for Haaland's first goal with a great through ball. Defensively, he was astute, winning most of his battles and reading the game well. An excellent, all-around display from the Croatian defender.

Nico O'Reilly - 7.0: A really interesting performance from the youngster. He grabbed an assist and his shot forced a good save. However, he was also caught out defensively a few times. It was a mixed bag, full of energy and promise but also showing some naivety.

Midfielders

Tijjani Reijnders - 7.5: This guy was an absolute livewire. What stood out to us was his desire to shoot from anywhere. He created chances and was unlucky to hit the woodwork. He was a constant thorn in Monaco's side, even if his finishing was a bit wayward at times.

Jérémy Doku - 6.5: He was electric in the first hour, constantly taking on his man. His dribbling was a threat but the final ball was often lacking. He faded from the game before being subbed off, which was a bit of a shame after a bright start.

Rodri - 7.0: The usual metronome at the base of the midfield. He controlled the tempo effortlessly for the first hour. His booking was a necessary evil, a tactical foul to break up play. City definitely missed his control after he was substituted.

Bernardo Silva - 6.0: A tireless worker as always, but it wasn't his most effective game. He gave away possession too easily on a few occasions. The yellow card for his reaction to the penalty decision was born out of pure frustration. He just couldn't impose himself on the game.

Phil Foden - 7.0: He looked incredibly dangerous whenever he got on the ball. He was desperately unlucky to see his shot cannon off the crossbar. He created a couple of good chances but, from our perspective, he drifted in and out of the game a little too much.

Forwards

Erling Haaland - 8.5: What more can you say? The man is simply a goal-scoring phenomenon. He had so few touches but scored two brilliant goals. He could have even had a hat-trick but missed one big chance. Clinical, powerful, and the clear man of the match.

Manager

Josep Guardiola - 6.5: His team played some beautiful football and should have put the game to bed. The decision to take off Rodri perhaps backfired as City lost control. He'll be tearing his hair out that his team dominated for so long but only came away with a point.

Monaco Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Here are Monaco Player Ratings vs Manchester City

Goalkeeper

Philipp Köhn - 7.0: He made a handful of really important saves to keep his team in the contest. Couldn't do anything about Haaland's clinical finishes. His distribution was a bit shaky, but his shot-stopping was vital for his team securing a point.

Defenders

Eric Dier - 8.0: A true warrior's performance. He seemed to be everywhere, making a staggering eight clearances and crucial blocks. To then have the composure to step up and bury the 90th-minute penalty was just heroic. He was, surprisingly, one of the best players on the pitch.

Thilo Kehrer - 6.5: A solid and disciplined performance from the captain. He didn't do anything flashy but he won his tackles and kept the defensive line organized. A proper professional's display against a top-quality attack.

Mohammed Salisu - 6.5: He did his job well before being subbed. He put his body on the line with some important blocks. He was part of a defence that bent under pressure but, crucially, did not break completely. A decent showing.

Vanderson - N/A: His game was cruelly cut short by an early injury. He wasn't on the pitch long enough to receive a fair rating.

Midfielders

J. Teze - 8.0: What a game he had. He scored an absolute screamer that will be on highlight reels for weeks. Beyond the goal, he was a constant creative force, delivering dangerous crosses and causing problems all night. A phenomenal attacking performance.

Krépin Diatta - 6.0: He got the assist for Teze's goal which was a huge moment. However, we noticed he was quite wasteful in possession and his decision-making wasn't always the best. The yellow card he picked up was just silly and unnecessary.

Mamadou Coulibaly - 7.0: A real workhorse in the middle of the park. He was tenacious, breaking up play with tackles and interceptions. He provided a fantastic shield for his defence and worked tirelessly for the team. A very impressive, disciplined game.

Forwards

Folarin Balogun - 5.0: It was a night to forget for the striker. We felt for him, as he missed two gilt-edged chances that could have changed the game. He never really looked comfortable and struggled to make any impact. A really disappointing performance.

Maghnes Akliouche - 6.0: He tried his best to make things happen but was ultimately very inefficient. He attempted a lot of dribbles but lost the ball far too often. You can't fault his effort, but the quality just wasn't there on the night.

Ansu Fati - 6.5: Looked bright and lively during his time on the pitch. He was clever in drawing fouls and created space for his teammates. It was a decent shift, and you could see his quality in flashes before he was taken off.

Manager

A. Hütter - 7.5: What a result for his side. His team showed immense character to come from behind twice. His tactics were brave, pressing high and trying to play on the front foot. He'll be absolutely delighted with the fight his team showed and the precious point they earned.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Erling Haaland