Monaco 2-2 Manchester City: UEFA Champions League result as controversial Eric Dier penalty snatches draw after Erling Haaland excellence

Champions League / League Phase

Stade Louis II / 01.10.2025

AS Monaco

Finished

Manchester City

J. Teze(18')
E. Dier(90' PEN)

E. Haaland(15', 44')

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VAR CONTROVERSY STRIKES AS CITY HELD

Eric Dier scored a 90th-minute penalty to earn Monaco a 2-2 draw against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.

City had controlled large portions of the match, and led for almost the entirety of the second half thanks to Erling Haaland’s spectacular double, but Pep Guardiola’s side were denied two wins from two after a controversial VAR intervention just minutes from time.

With one of his first touches of the match, Haaland opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a delightful lob, latching onto an inch-perfect Josko Gvardiol ball and applying a touch of finesse to beat Philipp Kohn.

Jordan Teze, however, slammed home an equaliser for Monaco just two minutes later, after he was found in space on the edge of the box.

City would go on to take a lead into half-time, with Haaland again providing a seismic contribution. With just his seventh touch of the first half, he almost impossibly headed in Nico O’Reilly’s floated cross – notching his 52nd Champions League goal in 50 appearances.

Guardiola’s side were enjoying much of the possession in the latter stages, but were denied by the crossbar when Tijjani Reijnders found space to unleash a left-footed cross.

And they were punished for not furthering their lead when Nico Gonzalez raised a boot towards Eric Dier’s head as the England defender attempted to make contact with a free-kick into the box on 90 minutes.

After a lengthy VAR review, which incited furore from both benches, referee Jesus Gil Manzano pointed to the spot, and Dier converted, with Gianluigi Donnarumma diving in the opposite direction.

Image credit: Getty Images

LESCOTT, GIVEN ON PENALTY DECISION

Joleon Lescott said: "His foot is high, but I still believe, the fact he's in front of Dier, he doesn't recognise where Dier's coming from, the height that Dier's stooping down to.

"There's no contact with the foot, it is the shin. I think it's harsh. If it's as simple as what Erling is saying, kicking him in the face, then yeah it's a penalty. But I think it's a little harsh."

Shay Given, meanwhile, said: "Probably is a bit [harsh] but I think in Champions League football the refs and VAR is always going to give it.

"I think Gonzalez is naive in a sense. Gvardiol is behind him and I think he's going to go and head it, so if it's not his ball to deal with, his foot is so high.

"When you raise your foot that high, you're taking a risk. I know he gets a nick on the ball but his shin hits Dier in the face, and of course he's going to make the most of it. I just think it's a wee bit naive. I think Gvardiol had that situation under control."

HAALAND DISPUTES LACK OF GAME INVOLVEMENT

The City striker was asked about his telling contributions despite his lack of the ball during much of the match - but he disagreed with the notion that not touching the ball means he isn't involved in the game.

I still think I'm involved in the game, doing movements and giving space to others. It's not only about touching the ball, you can be involved in the game in many other ways. That's my job, I did my job in the first half, second half I didn't.

HAALAND TO TNT SPORTS: 'WE DIDN'T DESERVE TO WIN'

Erling Haaland - who was shaking his head in disappointment at the full-time whistle, stopped by for a chat with TNT Sports.

On the result: "Of course, don't feel good. We don't win, we do something unnecessary in the second half and I don't think we played well enough. So we didn't deserve to win."

On City's performance: "We need more energy, we need to get at them more as we did in the first half. We dominated much more, now in the second half they took the lead, I don't think it's good enough."

On the penalty call: "I didn't see it again, but I don't know, if you kick someone in the face I guess it's a penalty."

On the difficulty of the Champions League: "Every Champions League game is tough. Look at last year, we went out, so every single game was tough. Not many teams win their first two games, that's how it is."

GIVEN, LESCOTT DELIVER THEIR VERDICTS

Shay Given said: "It feels a bit like that [a defeat]. It feels like they're a bit deflated. You see Erling Haaland walking off the pitch shaking his head having scored twice. I think City had over 70% possession, 17 shots. It was simply one-way traffic but they never got that third, killer goal to put it to bed.

"At 2-1, it's always a dangerous scoreline and maybe the penalty was controversial. We were undecided in the studio, but give Monaco credit. They kept going until the end and got that penalty."

Joleon Lescott told TNT Sports: "Conceding so late on to draw, regardless of the game, it always feels like a defeat. I do feel this is a sign that City aren't yet back to their best.

"They would have gone on to record a convincing 3-1 or 4-1 win if they were. At the moment, they're just not seeing games out but overall the performance was positive."

A LOOK AT THAT DECISIVE MOMENT

Dier denies Man City with controversial late spot kick

Video credit: TNT Sports

FULL-TIME: MONACO 2-2 MANCHESTER CITY

It was always the risk for City with just one goal in it, and Dier's contributions - winning the penalty and then scoring it - were ultimately decisive.

Controversial? Perhaps. I'm sure the studio will have something to say about the penalty call.

Stay with us for some reaction!

90+7'

THAT LOOKED DANGEROUS!

City work the ball forward and Gvardiol looks to have found an opening to shoot, but a heroic block, and that looks like it'll be that.

90+5'

CITY NOW HAVE A FREE-KICK

As Foden is brought down in a central position, around 25 yards from goal.

90+4'

COULD THERE BE A WINNER?

Monaco are forcing the issue and win a corner, but it comes to nothing. All of a sudden, things are looking a little hairy for the Premier League side.

90'

SEVEN MINUTES ADDED ON

90'

GOAL! MONACO 2-2 MANCHESTER CITY (DIER)

The England defender sinks it! Monaco are level right on 90 minutes.

No mistake from Dier, who emulates the composure he showed in sinking England's winning penalty against Colombia in 2018 with an assured strike into the bottom right. Donnarumma dived the wrong way.

89'

JOE COLE ON THE PENALTY DECISION

"It is dangerous. I think there's got to be an amnesty. It's reckless, but sometimes football just is reckless. It's last ditch, isn't it. You can't send him off for that. He can't go with his head. I think if that's in the midfield, it's a foul, definitely."

89'

IT'S A PENALTY!!!

Manzano makes up his mind and points to the spot. This could be HUGE.

Gonzalez deemed to have struck Dier with a high foot.

87'

DRAMA IS UNFOLDING!

Referee Jesus Gil Manzano is going to the monitor to assess this potential penalty, and some excellent beef is breaking out among the two benches.

Manzano brandishes his red card - not quite sure who to! While Silva is shown a yellow for his remonstrations.

85'

FAIRLY DANGEROUS FREE-KICK OPPORTUNITY

And Dier gets a head on it, but it's into the hands of Donnarumma.

But hang on! A high boot from Gonzalez seems to connect with the face of Dier - and VAR is going to check this one...

81'

TRIPLE CHANGE FOR THE HOSTS

Balogun, Coulibaly and Salisu's evenings are over.

Coming on, Mika Biereth, Pape Cabral and George Ilenikhena. Aged 22, 18 and 19 respectively - they will surely bring some energy in the final nine (and a bit).

78'

CITY ATTACK BREAKS DOWN

Another long spell of pressure, but this time it is curtailed by Gvardiol's attempt at some sort of Hollywood pass to no one.

City won't want to be giving up the ball now. With a one-goal lead, away in the Champions League, the script writes itself.

74'

REIJNDERS CRACKS THE BAR!

What a goal that would've been.

Reijnders has been a threat all night, and nearly got the goal that surely would've sealed three points for City. Alas, there's still just the single goal in it.

The midfielder is found by Savinho on the edge of the box, he shifts the ball onto his left to beat two Monaco men before sending a left-footed effort against the woodwork.

Moments later, Haaland's deflected effort is turned behind by Kohn.

The game has sprung back into life.

72'

TEZE LOOKS FOR ANOTHER SPECTACULAR

But instead it flies spectacularly wide.

That finally calls for the change of Nunes, who replaces Stones at right-back.

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