AS Monaco vs Juventus

The Stade Louis-II in the Principality hosts a decisive final-day showdown tonight, Wednesday, January 28, 2026, as AS Monaco faces Juventus. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT (21:00 CET / 15:00 ET).

For Monaco, the stakes are simple: survival. Currently sitting in 21st place (9 points), they likely need at least a draw to secure a spot in the knockout-phase play-offs. Juventus, in 15th place (12 points), enters the night on a hot streak; a fourth consecutive European win could propel Luciano Spalletti’s men into the top eight, granting them direct passage to the Round of 16.

Match Information

AS Monaco: Holding the Line

Sébastien Pocognoli’s side is reeling from a brutal winter. A humiliating 6–1 loss to Real Madrid on Matchday 7 was followed by a stalemate against Le Havre, leaving the Monegasques vulnerable. With a mounting injury list and inconsistent league form, they must find the defensive resolve that saw them go unbeaten in their first five European games.

Team News and Selection:

• Defensive Crisis: Monaco is missing nearly an entire backline. Eric Dier, Wout Faes, Mohammed Salisu, and Christian Mawissa are all out. Jordan Teze will likely have to partner Thilo Kehrer in a makeshift central defense.

• Midfield & Attack: Paul Pogba remains sidelined with a calf injury, and Takumi Minamino is out long-term. Aleksandr Golovin—who created six chances against Madrid—remains the primary creative outlet for striker Folarin Balogun.

• The "Ansu" Spark: Ansu Fati is expected to start on the left, looking to rediscover his best form against an elite Italian defense.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Köhn; Vanderson, Kehrer, Teze, Caio Henrique; Camara, Zakaria; Akliouche, Fati, Golovin; Balogun.

Juventus: Spalletti’s High-Flying Bianconeri

Juventus is arguably the most in-form team in Europe right now. Following a statement 3–0 win over reigning Serie A champions Napoli on Sunday, Luciano Spalletti has his side playing with a "no-pressure" swagger. They have won three straight UCL matches (against Pafos, Bodø/Glimt, and Benfica) and are hunting for a top-eight seed.

Team News and Selection:

• Striker Shuffle: With Dusan Vlahovic out after adductor surgery, Spalletti has confirmed that Loïs Openda will start up front. The coach is hoping the Belgian can snap his recent goal drought in the absence of Jonathan David.

• Midfield Mastery: Teun Koopmeiners is confirmed to return to the starting lineup. Manuel Locatelli and Khéphren Thuram will provide the physical platform behind him.

• Defensive Stability: Lloyd Kelly and Bremer have formed a formidable partnership, though Spalletti hinted at evaluating their fitness levels following the intense Napoli match.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio; Kalulu, Bremer, Kelly, Cambiaso; Locatelli, Thuram; Conceição, Koopmeiners, Yildiz; Openda.

Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• The "Italian Hex": Juventus has eliminated Monaco in all three of their previous Champions League knockout ties (1998, 2015, 2017).

• Recent Record: The last meeting in May 2017 ended in a 2–1 victory for Juventus in Turin.

• Monaco’s Home Resilience: Despite their struggles, Monaco is unbeaten in their last three home Champions League matches this season.

• Clean Sheet Kings: Juventus has kept four clean sheets in their last six matches across all competitions.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

This is a collision of contrasting trajectories. Juventus will look to dominate the middle of the park through Koopmeiners and exploit Monaco’s makeshift central defense with the pace of Kenan Yildiz and Openda. Spalletti's "pragmatic fluidity" has made Juve difficult to pin down.

Monaco’s strategy will likely be more cautious. Pocognoli knows a single point is worth its weight in gold tonight. Expect Denis Zakaria to sit extremely deep to protect the inexperienced Kehrer-Teze pairing, while looking for Golovin to spark counter-attacks for Balogun.

Final Score Prediction: AS Monaco 1–2 Juventus