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Monaco
Champions League | League Stage
Jan 21, 2025 at 5.45pm UK
Stade Louis II.
Aston Villa logo

Monaco
1 - 0
Aston Villa

Singo (8')
Golovin (90+2')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Digne (49'), Rogers (82'), Kamara (90+2')

Preview: Monaco vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Tuesday's Champions League clash between Monaco and Aston Villa, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Aston Villa travel to Monaco in the Champions League group phase on Tuesday, hoping to consolidate their position in the automatic qualification places.

Should they win, the hosts will move level on points with Unai Emery's side in the table, leaving both sides with plenty to play for at Stade Louis II.


Match preview

Monaco's Vanderson pictured on August 17, 2024© Imago

The hosts started their season with a 10-match unbeaten streak in all competitions, during which they won two of their first three matches in Europe.

Since losing to Nice at the end of October, they have struggled for consistency in all competitions, and they have failed to win any of their four matches since the turn of the year.

A run of five wins in their last 16 matches has seen Monaco fall outside the automatic qualification places in the Champions League, miss out on silverware in the Trophee des Champions to Paris Saint-Germain and get knocked out the Coupe de France by Reims.

Their European campaign got off to an excellent start with a 2-1 victory against Barcelona back in September, followed by a draw against Dinamo Zagreb and further victories over Red Star Belgrade and Bologna.

Last time out in the competition, they were well beaten by Arsenal in London, as Bukayo Saka struck twice and Kai Havertz finished off the Ligue 1 visitors.

That defeat to the Gunners leaves Adi Hutter's men with work to do to qualify automatically for the round of 16, but with games against two teams currently occupying the automatic qualification spots, the qualification picture in the group could still look very different come the end of the group phase.

Monaco will point to their strong home record this season as a reason to believe they can get a result against Villa this season – the hosts have only lost once at home in their three Champions League contests at Stade Louis II this year, and they have only lost twice at home in Ligue 1 this season too.

Les Rouges et Blanc are currently three points off eighth-placed Lille in the final automatic qualifying position, but the group table is so tightly contested that there are plenty of clubs in the race and only eight positions to fill.

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery pictured on September 24, 2024© Imago

Unlike their opponents, the visitors have made a bright start to the new year and Unai Emery's side have won seven out of their last 11 fixtures in all competitions.

Villa surpassed all expectations by qualifying for the Champions League with a surprise fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season.

Now more than halfway through their Premier League campaign, the visitors are in contention for the top four once again, as they sit eighth in the table, just two points off fourth.

They have continued to silence the doubters, having put in several fine performances in Europe this season, including impressive victories against German sides Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig, as well as a goalless draw with Juventus.

A major reason behind their success in Europe has been their strength in defence, as Villa have kept four clean sheets in their six games in the competition to date.

Although their only defeat in the competition came away to Club Brugge in November, Emery's team have won their other two away games in Europe.

Their away record this season has been disappointing overall though, and Villa have lost six out of their last nine away from home in all competitions.

However, there have been recent signs of recovery, as they came from two goals behind against Arsenal at the weekend to grab a point, and they also saw off Everton at Goodison Park earlier in the week.

They will look to continue their recent improvements, as they hit the road on Tuesday, looking to stamp their ticket to the knockout phases of Europe's premier football competition.

Monaco Champions League form:


Monaco form (all competitions):


Aston Villa Champions League form:


Aston Villa form (all competitions):



Team News

Aston Villa's John McGinn pictured on September 17, 2024© Imago

Monaco have several injury worries ahead of the match, with former Arsenal player Folarin Balogun ruled out due to a shoulder injury.

Elsewhere, George Ilenikhena is due to miss the next three to four weeks with an adductor injury, while Krepin Diatta is out for a few weeks due to a muscle injury.

In further disappointing news for the hosts, Wilfried Singo (back) and Denis Zakaria (illness) are doubts for this clash, having missed Friday's defeat to Montpellier.

Meanwhile, Villa's John McGinn has returned to training following a thigh injury, but he is a doubt for this match.

To add to Emery's frustrations, Diego Carlos is suspended, while Ross Barkley (calf) and Pau Torres (ankle) are out for this match.

Amadou Onana could also miss this clash, having been taken off during the first half in the weekend's draw at Arsenal due to injury.


Monaco possible starting lineup:
Majecki; Henrique, Salisu, Kehrer, Vanderson; Camara, Magassa, Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir; Embolo

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:
Martinez; Digne, Mings, Konsa, Cash; Kamara, Ramsey, Rogers, Tielemans, Bailey; Watkins


SM words green background

We say: Monaco 1-2 Aston Villa

The visitors have been one of the best stories to follow in the competition this season and have performed admirably in their matches so far.

We think they get yet another win here, as they are starting to hit a bit of form again following a slump earlier in the season.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.




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Written by
Tom Humphrey

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Game History

How you voted: Monaco vs Aston Villa

Monaco
18.3%
Draw
18.6%
Aston Villa
63.1%
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League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
QLiverpool870121
QInter Milan861119
QBarcelona861119
QArsenal861119
QAtletico860218
QB. Leverkusen851216
QAston Villa851216
QLille851216
9Real Madrid850315
10AC Milan850315
11Atalanta843115
12Dortmund850315
13Bayern850315
14PSV842214
15Benfica841313
16Feyenoord841313
17PSG841313
18Monaco841313
19Brest841313
20Juventus833212
21Celtic833212
22Man City832311
23Sporting Lisbon832311
24Brugge832311
25Dinamo Zagreb832311
26Stuttgart831410
27Shakhtar82157
28Bologna81346
29Red Star82066
30Sturm Graz82066
31Sparta Prague81164
32RB Leipzig81073
33Girona81073
34Salzburg81073
35Slovan Bratislava80080
36Young Boys80080


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