Club Brugge vs AS Monaco Prediction 18.09.2025 | UEFA Champions League

Having seen the Jupiler Pro League title slip away by just three points last season, Club Brugge were forced onto the longer, trickier road toward the UEFA Champions League, yet they showcased their competitive spirit and fighting edge by navigating the qualifiers in style.

Even when faced with a daunting qualification path, Blauw-Zwart cleared the hurdles with surprising ease, first seeing off RB Salzburg 4-2 on aggregate before producing a spectacular double over Rangers, claiming a 3-1 triumph at Ibrox and then outclassed the Scots 6-0 on home soil.

The momentum built in continental action deserted Nicky Hayen’s side on league duty, as they stumbled to a surprise 1-0 reverse against newcomers RAAL La Louviere, drawing a line under what had been a seven-game unbeaten run (six wins, one draw).

Young striker Romeo Vermant picked up a muscle injury in the first leg of the Champions League qualifiers against Rangers and will sit this one out, while Joaquin Seys has returned from injury but is unlikely to be risked against Monaco.

Unlike their Belgian counterparts, AS Monaco enjoyed the luxury of bypassing the qualification rounds, having secured direct entry into Europe’s elite club competition thanks to last season’s third-place finish in Ligue 1, behind Marseille and champions PSG.

This summer, Les Monegasques strengthened their squad with a host of intriguing and experienced signings, with Paul Pogba’s return to the pitch after a two-year suspension standing out, making them strong contenders to secure one of the 25 spots in the League Phase of the competition.

In domestic action, the Red-Whites have slipped up just once in their opening four Ligue 1 matches, claiming victory in the other three, including a narrow 2-1 triumph at Auxerre this weekend, providing a major boost ahead of their next trip.

One area that could concern head coach Adi Hutter is his team’s defensive frailties, with no signs of progress as they’ve let in goals in all four of their opening matches this season.

Veteran goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky will be sidelined for the next two months with a recent knee injury, paving the way for Philipp Kohn to return in goal, while Paul Pogba still not ready to feature following his long suspension.