Rodriguez ruled out of vital tie

Absence confirmed
The 26-year-old full-back missed Tuesday's 1-0 home win against Liverpool FC, having announced prior to the game that he would need an operation for a persistent cartilage problem. He will be treated in Marseille on Thursday and Monaco medical staff said Rodriguez would be out for "the next two or three weeks".

Victory sought
He will therefore be unable to play in Spain on 8 December against already-eliminated Deportivo. A Monaco victory would seal their place in the first knockout round, but any other result would leave Didier Deschamps' side hoping Liverpool do not defeat leaders Olympiacos CFP the same night.