Preview: Monaco v Leverkusen
Monday, September 15, 2014
Article summary
AS Monaco FC return to the group stage for the first time in a decade looking to forget their domestic travails, with Bayer 04 Leverkusen up against ex talisman Dimitar Berbatov.
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• Monaco are preparing for their first appearance in the competition proper since 2004/05
• Monaco have won just one of their five games in all competitions this season
• Visitors Leverkusen have triumphed in five of their six fixtures this campaign
• Monaco's Dimitar Berbatov made more than 150 league outings for Leverkusen
• Leverkusen's Lars Bender available again after four months out with a thigh injury
Possible lineups
Monaco: Subašić; Fabinho, Raggi, Carvalho, Kurzawa; Moutinho, Toulalan, Kondogbia; Ferreira-Carrasco, Berbatov, Ocampos.
• Out: Abdennour (thigh)
Leverkusen: Leno; Jedvaj, Toprak, Spahić, Boenisch; Castro, L Bender; Bellarabi, Çalhanoğlu, Son; Kiessling.
• Out: Papadopoulos (shoulder), Rolfes (ankle), Brandt (ankle)
Leonardo Jardim, Monaco coach
The UEFA Champions League is a different competition. We want different results. This is the first time some of our players [have played in the group stage] so we want the best possible result. The experienced players will help the youngest ones.
The UEFA Champions League is a very important competition – a lot is at stake. And usually results hinge on small details. Leverkusen are strong and very quick on the break. We will have to be careful from set pieces. We will have to raise our game and be efficient up front. The youth of our team is not an issue. We need to find a bridge between the current situation and the future that is in front of us – which is very promising.
Roger Schmidt, Leverkusen coach
We are confident and the players know it. We have analysed Monaco's game and they are a good team. They have not played in Europe for a while but they are not outsiders. It is only early in the season, the standings do not mean anything. Monaco have a lot of quality and the UEFA Champions League is a different competition, so we cannot compare it with the league.
Dimitar Berbatov is a great player who had a great career at Leverkusen. He is clinical in front of goal so we will have to be careful. He had a great time with Leverkusen and brought a lot to the club. I have always liked him.
We have had big tests already in the league and in the play-offs, so we have been able to apply our new style. We have succeeded, so this is not our first big test.
Weekend results
Olympique Lyonnais 2-1 Monaco (Fekir 30, Tolisso 73; Ocampos 39)
Leverkusen 3-3 SV Werder Bremen (Jedvaj 17, Hakan Çalhanoğlu 63, Son 73; Bartels 45, Di Santo 60, Prödl 85)
Form guide (all competitions)
Monaco: LDWLL
Leverkusen: DWWWWW
Match facts
• What were the results when Monaco and Leverkusen met in the 1997/98 group stage? Find out in our extensive match background.