Monaco Struggle To Salvage Season After Champions League Blow

Monacos season, which began with so much promise, is now at risk of unravelling after their midweek Champions League elimination. The club is left fighting to secure qualification for next season's competition as their domestic form remains inconsistent.

Adi Hutter's side had a flying start, going unbeaten in their first eight Ligue 1 games and sitting level with Paris Saint-Germain on 20 points. Their Champions League campaign also began brightly, as they took 10 points from their first four matches, including a memorable win over Barcelona.

However, their strong early-season form has since faded, with Monaco losing six of their last 14 Ligue 1 games. They now sit fourth in the table, 16 points behind PSG and only two points ahead of Lille, their opponents this weekend.

A top-three finish secures direct entry into next season's Champions League, while fourth place requires navigating the qualification rounds. The team in fifth must settle for the Europa League, an outcome Monaco are desperate to avoid.

Last weekends 7-1 thrashing of struggling Nantes, in which new signing Mika Biereth bagged a second hat-trick in three league matches, was a positive sign. But defensive vulnerabilities have been Monaco's undoing in big games. That weakness was exposed again on Tuesday when a 3-3 draw with Benfica saw them crash out of the Champions League play-offs, losing 4-3 on aggregate.