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Preview: Manchester City v Monaco

Cape Town - Manchester City will aim to get their Champions League last-16 tie off to a positive start when they host Monaco in the first leg on Tuesday.

City are unbeaten in their last six games coming into this clash, winning four and drawing the other two. However, their most recent result was a disappointing 0-0 draw with Huddersfield in the FA Cup fifth round. 

Pep Guardiola's men are unbeaten in their last eight Champions League home games, and have never lost to French opposition in Europe, winning one and drawing two.

When asked how they will stop Monaco, who average over three goals per game in Ligue 1, Guardiola told the press: "We use many things.

"When they control the game and the opponents defend deep, they cross a lot but when you are attacking and you lose the ball normally the opponents attack with wingers but the team attack with Lemar and Bernardo Silva.

"That is why it is so, so dangerous. They attack with a lot of people, that's why you cannot control the counter-attack. That's why they are so strong."

Monaco have been in superb form of late. They are unbeaten in their last 11 matches in all competitions, winning nine, while also climbing to the top of Ligue 1, ahead of defending champions PSG.

Les Rouges et Blancs also have an excellent record playing in England. They have lost only once in their five Champions League away games against English opposition, winning two and drawing two.

City will most likely call upon striker Sergio Aguero to lead the line, following the broken foot suffered by Gabriel Jesus. Vincent Kompany is a doubt for the hosts as he was unavailable to play against Huddersfield, even though Guardiola insisted it's not serious.

The visitors will be without the services of attacking midfielder Gabriel Boschilia, who is still recovering from a cruciate injury.

However, Tiemoue Bakayoko will travel with the squad despite being substituted at half-time in the game against Bastia at the weekend.

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