Manchester City played out a frustrating 2-2 draw against AS Monaco in a Champions League encounter that saw star striker Erling Haaland net a brace but ultimately left him "f****d off" by the outcome. The match, held at the Stade Louis II, saw City twice take the lead only for Monaco to claw their way back, with a controversial late penalty sealing the shared points.

Erling Haaland opened the scoring for Manchester City in the 15th minute, converting Josko Gvardiol’s cross with an outstretched boot over Philipp Köhn. Monaco quickly responded, with Jordan Teze netting an equalizer in the 18th minute. Haaland, however, restored City's lead just before halftime, scoring with a wonderfully-placed header in the 44th minute, taking his Champions League tally to an impressive 52 goals in 50 appearances.

Despite Haaland's stellar individual performance, which earned him the Player of the Match award, City failed to capitalize on their lead. The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute when a high boot from Nico Gonzalez connected with Eric Dier’s face in the box during a tussle for a free-kick. After a lengthy VAR review and an off-the-ball incident that led to a Monaco coach being sent off, referee Jesús Gil Manzano awarded a penalty. Eric Dier calmly converted the spot-kick, sending Gianluigi Donnarumma the wrong way and denying City a crucial victory.

The penalty decision sparked considerable frustration within the Manchester City camp. Manager Pep Guardiola claimed it was an "unfair free-kick," arguing that his player touched the ball first and there was no intention to foul. Haaland echoed the team's disappointment, stating, "I'm f****d off, I think everyone should be. It's not good enough... We didn't play good enough, we didn't deserve to win." He added his perspective on the penalty, remarking, "If you kick someone in the face it’s going to be a penalty."

City also had opportunities to extend their lead earlier in the game, with Phil Foden and Tijjani Reijnders both striking the crossbar. Haaland's two goals against Monaco contributed to his astounding goal-scoring record, bringing his season total to 11 goals in eight games and his Manchester City Champions League tally to 29 goals in 31 appearances. His Champions League journey began phenomenally with Red Bull Salzburg, followed by a prolific spell at Borussia Dortmund, solidifying his status as one of Europe's most feared strikers.