A 1-1 draw with PSV Eindhoven at Stade Louis II on 25 November 2003
effectively guaranteed AS Monaco FC a place in the knockout stages of the
UEFA Champions League, an opportunity Didier Deschamps's side would take as
they advanced to the final before losing to FC Porto.

  

Action from the sides' meeting last season


For PSV, their interest in the competition would end on the subsequent
matchday as a 3-2 defeat of RC Deportivo La Coru?a proved insufficient to
sustain their participation. But this season, the Dutch side finally ended
their quest for a place in the knockout stages at the eighth time of asking.

They they will now seek to avenge a 2-1 defeat by Monaco on the opening
matchday of the 2003/04 Champions League; to date the only victory by a Ligue
1 side at the Philips stadium in UEFA competition. Fernando Morientes and
Edouard Cissé did the damage for Monaco, with Wilfried Bouma replying for
PSV. Overall, PSV have won four, drawn five and lost once to French clubs at
home.

But PSV will be wary of their overall record away to Ligue 1 sides in UEFA
competition: six draws and four defeats. Nevertheless, the Eindhoven club
take a three-game unbeaten record on French soil into their tie against
Monaco. Last season's 1-1 draw in the principality saw Monaco score first
through Morientes before Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink levelled six minutes from
time.

While Monaco advanced to the final, PSV transferred to the UEFA Cup where
they overcame French side AJ Auxerre in the fourth round. They drew 1-1 in
France before PSV won 3-0 at home. The Dutch outfit would lose 3-2 on
aggregate to Newcastle United FC in the quarter-finals.

Monaco have only faced Dutch sides on two other occasions in UEFA
competition, defeating Roda JC (6-2 on aggregate in the first round of the
1990/91 UEFA Cup) and Feyenoord (on away goals in the semi-finals of the UEFA
Cup Winners' Cup the following season). Overall, Monaco remain unbeaten in
six encounters against opponents from the Netherlands, winning once and
drawing twice in the principality. On their travels, they have won twice and
drawn once.

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