Aston Villa are going through a doubtlessly pivotal ‘Battle of Britain’ as they bid to safe an automated place within the Champions League spherical of 16.
After this disappointing defeat within the millionaire’s playground of Monaco, the stakes shall be excessive subsequent Wednesday when Villa host Scottish champions Celtic of their last group sport.
Villa seem protected bets to qualify for the knockout stage however victory over Celtic subsequent week will give them an enormous probability of bypassing the spherical of 32 and easing fixture congestion.
In entrance of Prince William, and co-owner Nassef Sawiris, Villa produced an underwhelming show as Monaco registered a priceless victory of their very own.
An eighth-minute aim from Ivory Coast worldwide Wilfried Singo was sufficient to condemn Villa to solely their second defeat in Europe this season.
On the birthday of former legendary striker Gary Shaw, who tragically handed away final yr, Villa have been annoyed late within the first-half after three saves from Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki.
Not even the introduction of substitute Jhon Duran might swing the sport in Villa’s favour, and if Monaco’s attacking midfielder Maghnes Akliouche had displayed extra composure in entrance of aim it might have been a extra dismal scoreline for Unai Emery.
But Villa’s first season on this competitors since 1983 has nonetheless been a triumph and additional proof of the membership’s progress beneath Emery.
Subsequent Wednesday, Villa will know if their European excursions restart in February or March.
Singo’s successful aim got here early on, with the centre-back changing from shut vary after Emiliano Martinez had saved brilliantly from Thilo Kehrer’s header.
Martinez, the Villa goalkeeper, was booed all through by the house supporters and stays a pantomime villain in these components after his function in Argentina’s World Cup win over France in 2022.
07:48 PM GMTFT: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
That’s a giant setback for Villa.
The whistle blows on the finish of a lacklustre show by Emery’s aspect, who appeared nonetheless to be feeling the results of their hard-fought 2-2 draw with Arsenal. They appeared out on their toes and will in all probability have misplaced by extra.
They thus miss the prospect to wrap up the league part and keep away from the play-offs as they slip to seventh place with matches nonetheless left to play on this match spherical.
In the event that they end wherever from ninth to sixteenth it’ll be the play-offs for them. And standing of their method of their last group part shall be Celtic, whom they may face in a dramatic all-British affair subsequent week.
07:42 PM GMT90+4 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Unai Emery is waving his gamers ahead for one more up-and-under type free-kick. However Monaco have defended like trojans, and head clear once more, and shall be properly price their win, albeit a scrappy and ugly one.
07:41 PM GMT90+3 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Can Villa mount one thing late and dramatic.
Martinez hoofs the ball ahead and Villa handle to work the ball right into a crowded space the place Duran tries an over bold bicycle kick from the sting of the world which flies properly over the bar.
07:38 PM GMT90 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
There are 5 minutes of added time to play however at this price there may as properly be 55.
Villa simply aren’t on the races at this time, and Monaco are getting ready to becoming a member of them on 13 factors within the large Champions (Tremendous) League desk.
07:37 PM GMT89 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Villa want an equaliser however it’s Monaco, who look a lot more energizing, creating all the possibilities.
Golovin this time does get his shot away however he can solely fireplace into the side-netting from a good angle as he tries to beat Martinez at his close to put up.
07:35 PM GMT86 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Substitutions:
Emi Buendia OUTLamare Bogarde IN
Morgan Rogers OUTJacob Ramsey IN
07:31 PM GMT83 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Monaco break once more and Teze performs in Michal, who tries to work his method into the world solely to be pushed to the bottom by Rogers, simply exterior the penalty space. Rogers is booked and Monaco have a free-kick to dimension up. Teze hits the wall.
07:28 PM GMT78 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Substitutions:
Takimi Minamino OUTLucas Michal IN
Denis Zakaria OUTJordan Teze IN.
It’s a bitty second half on a seemingly bobbly pitch and Hütter is making an attempt to interrupt it up additional with extra substitutions.
Villa really want to mount one thing cohesive however they’re wanting drained and disjointed simply now. And Duran hasn’t had a sniff.
07:23 PM GMT74 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Likelihood for Monaco!
Lamine Camara performs an excellent ball excessive for the rampaging Golovin, who holds off Konsa after which pulls the set off, just for Mings to seem out of nowhere to make a thunderous block. Excellent intervention there from the Villa defender.
From the following nook Embolo makes an attempt an adventurous overhead kick however it’s a tame effort in the long run and an easy catch for Martinez.
07:17 PM GMT69 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Likelihood for Villa!
Rogers threads a pleasant go to Matty Money on the suitable aspect of the world. The angle is tight however he ought to shoot. As a substitute he hits a cross-shot that squirms throughout aim and allows the hosts to clear.
07:15 PM GMT67 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Substitutions:
Lucas Digne OUT.Ian Maatsen IN.
07:14 PM GMT65 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Substitutions:
Lamine Camara OUT.Soungoutou Magassa IN.
Eliesse Ben Seghir OUT.Aleksandr Golovin IN.
07:12 PM GMT62 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Villa cede possession in midfield as Watkins’ reverse go is intercepted.
Minamino breaks down the suitable and forces Martinez right into a save at full stretch. The angle was at all times more likely to work towards the Japan worldwide there.
And Villa come ahead, now Digne’s cross cleared by the imperious Singo, however he tries once more and Rogers has an opportunity however is let down by his contact.
And all of the sudden Monaco break, once more via Minamino, this time down the suitable. He should shoot! However he elects as a substitute to chop in on to his left foot and Mings will get again to make the block. Horrible dallying there by Minamino.
07:06 PM GMT56 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Substitution.
Bailey off.
Duran on.
This can be a decisive transfer from Emery, who for as soon as has elected to play Watkins and Duran collectively.
Bailey had one good effort within the first half however has largely lacked conviction at this time – and Emery deserves credit score for making an attempt to shake issues up so early on within the second half.
It’s Jhon Duran time.
And the way Aston Villa want a spark of magic to show this contest round right here.
He scored eight minutes after approaching towards RB Leipzig final month and Unai Emery shall be desperately hoping for a swift impression once more.
07:03 PM GMT52 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
PENALTY SHOUT.
Buendia is turning into a rising affect on the sport and he pirouettes superbly earlier than discovering the onrushing Rogers, who goes down beneath a problem, however the referee, not like Rogers, stays unmoved.
07:02 PM GMT52 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Prince William is among the many well-known faces right here at Stade Louis II this night.
The long run king is, in fact, an Aston Villa nut and that is understood to be his first away sport within the Champions League this season.
Additionally within the crowd at this time is Roberto Mancini, Prince Albert II and Villa’s co-owner Nassef Sawiris.
06:59 PM GMT49 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
GOAL DISALLOWED.
An exquisite break from Monaco, as Embolo feeds Vandersen down the suitable. His cross is buried by Akliouche however the attacking midfielder is flagged offside. One other let-off for Villa there – all he wanted to do was examine his run by half a second. That’s three wonderful possibilities Akliouche has handed up.
06:56 PM GMT47 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Ooooh!
Villa break down the left via the pacey Watkins, who squares the ball to Rogers on the sting of the world. Rogers will get a fierce shot off with the skin of his proper foot and it flies narrowly large.
06:46 PM GMTHT: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Villa did progressively enhance and Monaco goalkeeper Majecki produced advantageous saves from Digne and Bailey.
A diving cease to push apart a shot from Watkins in injury-time was essentially the most spectacular of the lot.
When does Jhon Duran take centre stage?
06:39 PM GMT45 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Let-off for Villa!
Straight from the nook Monaco burst ahead, with Villa’s gamers out of place. Minamino performs in Akliouche to his proper however, from 10 yards out, he blazes his shot over the bar.
And that’s half-time!
There have been possibilities for either side in a topsy-turvy match. Watkins and Bailey have been denied brilliantly by Majecski however Monaco have had the marginally extra clear-cut possibilities. Martinez’s good save from Akliouche saved Villa within the match and the Franco-Algerian ought to have not less than hit the goal on the stroke of half-time.
06:36 PM GMT43 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Breel Embolo does extraordinarily properly to carry off Konsa and play the ball via to Akliouche. Minamino races on to his go within the space however Tyrone Mings get again to shepherd the ball again safely to Martinez.
Monaco are wanting a risk on the counter-attack, as Villa push on for the equaliser. However the hosts are defending properly, smothering the guests’ assault.
Ooooh! And Villa practically rating. Watkins is performed in by Buendia and the striker’s low angled strike is brilliantly tipped large by Majecki.
06:29 PM GMT39 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Penalty examine alert!
Monaco are very fast on the break they usually surge upfield in an try and catch Villa off guard.
The assault involves nothing however Ezri Konsa goes down injured, and is seen to by the medics. Appears to be like like he took a kick and shall be okay to proceed. The penalty examine should be full, although it’s not clear what the officers have been taking a look at.
06:27 PM GMT37 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Ooooh!
Villa go near an equaliser. A pleasant ball into the world by Youri Tielemans is destined for Watkins, however he touches it on to Bailey who thunders a left-footed roller goalwards, just for Majecki to tip it over.
06:25 PM GMT35 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Minamino receives the ball by the suitable touchline, jinks left and proper after which delivers a hand to the face of Buendia, who goes down as if he’s been shot. In equity there was contact there, however extra to the neck than the face. And play resumes with no sanction from Slavko Vincic, the person who refereed the Champions League last final summer time.
06:21 PM GMT30 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
There’s a free-kick for Monaco about 15 yards from aim. Emi Buendia strains it up after which tries to curve the ball into the highest right-hand nook however, although on track, it lacks the ability to beat Majecki.
06:16 PM GMT26 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Rogers is in every single place tonight and he manages to interrupt into the left-hand aspect of the world. His cross, although, is lower out by Vanderson and Kehrer defends the nook with a towering clearing header.
06:11 PM GMT24 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Villa are getting in behind Monaco however are letting themselves down with the ultimate go.
Watkins reveals unbelievable tempo to achieve a seemingly hopeless go from Boubacar Kamara, retains it in play however then Villa lose possession.
One other curling cross from Digne is touched again by Watkins to Rogers however the England worldwide will get crowded out by a swarm of Monégasques.
06:08 PM GMT21 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Very worrying begin from Aston Villa right here.
They give the impression of being a bit of torpid and are making frequent errors, and the query is whether or not Monaco can take extra benefit.
Villa have wanted one other fantastic save from Martinez to stop Akliouche from including a second aim.
06:07 PM GMT18 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Villa go up the opposite finish and miss a half-chance. Bailey’s management lets him down denying him the prospect to get a shot off, however he manages to tee up Rogers, who sends his shot into Port Hercules.
06:05 PM GMT15 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
SAVE!!!
That may be a excellent save from Enemy No 1. A fast break from Monaco offers Maghnes Akliouche the prospect to unleash a snapshot from 12 yards out however Martinez, at full stretch, get his left hand to the goalbound strike and palm it out for a nook. Villa are rocking a bit right here – and never in a great way.
06:02 PM GMT12 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Monaco’s season on this competitors has been unattainable to foretell up to now, however they’re forward right here.
It was a close-range end from Wilfried Singo, changing from a number of yards out after Emiliano Martinez saved from Thilo Kehrer.
Spectacular victories over Barcelona and Crimson Star Belgrade have been adopted by defeats by Benfica and Arsenal.
Fourth in Ligue 1, and 15 factors behind leaders Paris St-Germain, they misplaced to backside membership Montpellier on Friday.
But this seems like a difficult evening in retailer.
06:02 PM GMT10 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
Stade Louis II isn’t removed from Monte Carlo’s well-known on line casino, and Unai Emery has taken a big gamble of his personal at this time.
Emi Buendia is making his first begin because the ill-fated Carabao Cup defeat by Crystal Palace in October, in a uncommon probability to impress.
Hold an ear out for the jeers directed at Villa goalkeeper Martinez tonight.
Martinez stays Public Enemy No 1 on this nation for his pantomime villainy within the World Cup Closing towards France in 2022.
The Argentine, for those who bear in mind, had a really eventful evening in Lille final season, when he was booed all through the 120 minutes and penalties.
05:58 PM GMT8 minutes: Monaco 1 Aston Villa 0
GOAAALLL!
The hosts take the lead from a nook. The ball is swing in and Thilo Kehrer rises highest to look a header goalwards. Emi Martinez makes the save however Wilfried Singo, the massive strapping defender who missed the defeat by Arsenal, is first to the rebound to nod in from point-blank vary.
05:56 PM GMT5 minutes: Monaco 0 Aston Villa 0
And one other probability goes begging for Bailey. Rogers once more instigates a fast break, finds Lucas Digne on the left wing and the Frenchman delivers a scrumptious cross into the world, which hits Bailey ni the face and bounces obligingly for Radoslaw Majecki. Bailey was a bit unfortunate because the cross took a late deflection earlier than it reached him.
05:52 PM GMT3 minutes: Monaco 0 Aston Villa 0
A half-chance there for Aston Villa as Morgan Rogers drives via the midfield and finds Leon Bailey. The Jamaican waltzes into the world, feigns to chop inside however then goes on the skin, overhitting the ball over the goal-line.
05:50 PM GMTBig evening for Villa
This can be a large evening for Aston Villa, on a day when legendary striker Gary Shaw – who sadly handed away final yr – would have been 64.
Villa are at present fifth within the Champions League desk and may take an enormous step in the direction of qualifying for the knockout levels with a win on the Stade Louis II.
Monaco are additionally in with an opportunity of progress so this could possibly be a doubtlessly troublesome evening on the French Riviera.
05:46 PM GMTThe groups stroll out
It’s by no means essentially the most raucous ambiance on the Stade Louis II however not less than we will hear the Champions League theme tune.
Monaco’s gamers will definitely be up for this. They’ve made 5 modifications to the aspect who misplaced to backside aspect Montpellier on Friday, however one suspects Hütter was preserving his powder dry for this significant encounter.
05:40 PM GMTMonaco aiming to excite
Monaco made an excellent begin to their European marketing campaign, beating Barcelona 2-1 and successful three of their opening 4 matches.
They then succumbed to back-to-back defeats by Benfica and Arsenal however they are going to be assured of getting a outcome tonight at a stadium the place they’ve misplaced solely as soon as on this competitors.
Eliesse Ben Seghir, 19, and Maghnes Akliouche, 22, are the thrilling younger attacking midfielders to keep watch over, whereas former Liverpool playmaker Takumi Minamino will even be trying to decide a method although Villa’s rearguard.
05:25 PM GMTTransfer goal Duran benched
Hütter’s promise to assault ought to play into Villa’s fingers. Emery’s aspect are fast in transition and with Ollie Watkins flanked by Morgan Rogers and Jamaican sprinter Leon Bailey, we should always see objectives. Villa’s final European journey produced a five-goal thriller in Leipzig, however not one of the guests’ scorers in that 3-2 win in Germany are beginning tonight. John McGinn and Ross Barkley are injured, whereas Jhon Duran, the , is on the bench.
The explosive Colombian has not began for Villa since serving a three-match suspension and he shall be probably be stewing on the sidelines after being missed once more tonight. The rationale for that’s the type of Watkins. Villa’s No 11 has scored in back-to-back matches and scored 10 objectives in all competitions this season. Duran has scored 12, regardless of taking part in fewer minutes, and had scored in 4 consecutive matches earlier than his pink card towards Newcastle on Boxing Day. He has additionally scored three Champions League objectives to Watkins’ one, so the 21-year-old’s disgruntlement is understandable.
04:52 PM GMTBalogun out, Zakaria in
For Monaco, Dennis Zakaria and Wilfried Singo go health assessments, however Folarin Balogun, the previous Arsenal striker, is out with a shoulder drawback.
Monaco: Majecki; Vanderson, Singo, Kehrer, Mawissa, Zakaria, Camara, Akliouche, Minamino, Seghir; Embolo
Subs: Kohn, Lienard, Teze, Golovin, Henrique, Ouattara, Salisu, Diatta, Diop, Michal, Bouabre, Magassa
04:48 PM GMTBuendia, Bailey and Digne begin
Emery has rung the modifications with three amendments to the Villa aspect who on Saturday evening.
Emiliano Buendia has been given his first Champions League begin, whereas Lucas Digne and Leon Bailey additionally are available in.
Amadou Onana is out after sustaining an damage at Arsenal.
Right here is the crew:
Aston Villa: Martinez; Money, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Buendia; Bailey, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Gauci, Olsen, Duran, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Bogarde, Ramsey, Swinkels, Younger
04:43 PM GMTAnyone for the Villa in Monaco?
Good afternoon and welcome to our stay protection of Monaco v Aston Villa, the place Unai Emery’s aspect need to consolidate their place within the high tier of the large (tremendous) league part desk to safe protected passage into the knockout stage of the competitors with out recourse for a play-off.
Villa are sitting fairly in fifth place out of 36, on 13 factors, three factors away from Monaco, who lie sixteenth. An away win on the Stade Louis II will all however guarantee a top-eight end.
“We have now a really enormous alternative arriving right here to play [match]day seven with 13 factors,” mentioned Emery yesterday. “I feel we want three or 4 extra factors to get the highest eight. Our goal is to be within the high eight and that is key. Monaco have the same alternative.”
Monaco know {that a} draw will assure a two-legged play-off to find out a last-16 place, however their supervisor Adi Hütter isn’t a person for settling.
“We’re not an Italian crew,” he mentioned. “They know the way to do this, it’s one thing they’ve learnt. We’re a crew that likes to play up entrance.
“It could make no sense to begin a match considering that we wish to get a draw. Our DNA is to win matches – but when after 90 minutes, we get a draw that qualifies us, in fact we shall be very comfortable.”
