Monaco need to get back on track as Beşiktaş visit

UEFA Champions League semi-finalists in 2016/17, AS Monaco FC have work to do having collected just one point from their first two Group G outings – five points fewer than their matchday three opponents Beşiktaş JK.

• Leonardo Jardim's team were beaten 3-0 at home by FC Porto last time out, having drawn 1-1 away to debutants RB Leipzig on matchday one. Beşiktaş are three points clear at the top of the table after winning 3-1 at Porto on the opening night and then overcoming Leipzig 2-0 in Istanbul.

• This is a first meeting between these two clubs, but each played opponents from the other's country in 2016/17.

Match background

Monaco
• The French side faced Fenerbahçe SK in last season's third qualifying round, losing 2-1 in Turkey but winning 3-1 at home to start their memorable run to the semi-finals. Radamel Falcao scored in both legs.

• That was a third straight home victory over Turkish visitors for Monaco, who have failed to win only one such game – the first, against Galatasaray AŞ in the 1988/89 European Champion Clubs' Cup quarter-finals (0-1).

• Monaco's overall record against Turkish teams is W4 D1 L3.

• Having been unbeaten in seven European home matches (W6 D1), Monaco have lost the last two. They picked up seven points at home in the 2016/17 group stage.

• Monaco have nevertheless lost only three of their last 15 European home games (W9 D3).

• Monaco are in their eighth group stage campaign. Finalists in 2004, they got to the semis in 1994, 1998 and 2017.

• The principality outfit had another memorable European season in 2016/17, knocking out Manchester City FC and Borussia Dortmund en route to the last four. There they succumbed 4-1 on aggregate to Juventus (0-2 home, 1-2 away).

Beşiktaş
• Beşiktaş's interest in European competition last term was ended when French opponents Olympique Lyonnais – whose team included Rachid Ghezzal, now of Monaco – won their UEFA Europa League quarter-final 7-6 on penalties after a 2-1 first-leg home victory for the French club was replicated by their rivals in the Istanbul return.

• All but one of Beşiktaş's eight matches against Ligue 1 sides have produced a home win. The sole exception was their 2-2 home draw with AJ Auxerre in the 1994/95 UEFA European Cup Winners' Cup second round first leg (2-4 on aggregate).

• The Turkish team have therefore lost on all four visits to France, scoring two goals and conceding eight. They have let in two goals in each of their away games.

• Victory at Porto was Beşiktaş's fourth in their last ten European away matches (D3 L3).

• In 2016/17, Beşiktaş finished third in their group and moved into the UEFA Europa League, where they got as far as the quarter-finals before losing to Lyon.

• The Istanbul club collected four points on their travels in last year's group stage, the highlight a 3-2 triumph at Napoli.

Coach and player links
• Jardim was in charge of SC Braga for their 2011/12 UEFA Europa League round of 32 elimination at the hands of Beşiktaş (0-2 home, 1-0 away).

• Talisca scored the only goal of SL Benfica's UEFA Champions League group stage win against Monaco in 2014/15.

• Álvaro Negredo netted Valencia CF's goal in a 2-1 defeat at Monaco in the 2015/16 play-offs, completing a 4-3 aggregate victory for the Spanish side.

• Arda Turan struck Turkey's last-minute winner past Switzerland goalkeeper Diego Benaglio in the UEFA EURO 2008 group stage.

• Falcao scored away (3-1) and home (1-1) against Beşiktaş in Porto's victorious 2010/11 UEFA Europa League campaign, João Moutinho also playing both group games. Falcao was on target too in Club Atlético de Madrid's 3-0 win at Beşiktaş in the 2011/12 round of 16 second leg, his side again going on to lift the trophy.

• International team-mates:
João Moutinho & Pepe, Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal)
Diego Benaglio & Gökhan Inler (Switzerland)
Danijel Subašić & Matej Mitrović (Croatia)
Terence Kongolo & Jeremain Lens (Netherlands)

• Have played together:
Stevan Jovetić & Gary Medel (Internazionale Milano, 2015/16)
Fabinho & Pepe (Real Madrid CF, 2012/13)
Álvaro Negredo & Rony Lopes (Manchester City FC, 2013/14)

• Has played in France:
Duško Tošić (FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, 2006/07)

Match facts

Monaco
• Djibril Sidibé is a booking away from a ban.

• Monaco lost 3-2 at Lyon on Friday, Nabil Fekir scoring the hosts' winner five minutes into added time.

• Monaco's run of consecutive home Ligue 1 wins – a sequence dating back to December – stopped at 13 when they drew 1-1 against Montpellier Hérault SC on 29 September.

• Falcao has 14 goals in 15 appearances for club and country this season (12 in 8 in the league).

• Falcao has scored two goals or more in a game on four occasions this term, most recently registering twice in the 4-0 success at LOSC Lille on 22 September.

• Jovetić was substituted after 20 minutes of Montenegro's European Qualifier against Denmark on 5 October with a thigh injury.

• Sidibé (France), Thomas Lemar (France), Kamil Glik (Poland) and João Moutinho (Portugal) played during the international break as their teams qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

• Falcao is on the 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or. The winner will be announced in December.

Beşiktaş
• Beşiktaş have picked up just one point from their last three league fixtures, losing their last two away games 2-1.

• Caner Erkin will incur a suspension with his next booking.

• Jeremain Lens scored his first goal for Beşiktaş in the 2-2 draw against Trabzonspor AŞ on 1 October – a result that extended the Black Eagles' unbeaten home league run to 31 matches.

• Recovered from a tibia injury, Gökhan Gönül was introduced at half-time against Trabzonspor for his first competitive appearance since he played for Turkey against Kosovo on 11 June.

• Tošić started Serbia's World Cup qualification-clinching victory over Georgia on 9 October. Pepe played in Portugal's 2-0 success in Andorra and the European champions' decisive home win against Switzerland three days later, Quaresma featuring in the first of those fixtures.

• Cenk Tosun struck twice as Turkey concluded their unsuccessful qualification campaign with a 2-2 draw in Finland.

• Ryan Babel played the entirety of the Netherlands' 3-1 victory against Belarus on 7 October – his first cap since November 2011 – and retained his place for the subsequent visit of Sweden. He was sent off in Friday's 2-1 defeat at Gençlerbirliği.

• Adriano was an unused substitute against Gençlerbirliği having not featured since 18 September due to a calf injury.