Immediately information
2025-01-21 16:42:00
Key occasions
Unai Emery speaks: “I feel we’re very motivated enjoying within the Champions League as a result of the membership didn’t play in it for a very long time,” mentioned Villa’s head coach. “Europe is all the time one thing particular as nicely and I’m all the time transmitting that to the gamers, attempting to really feel it with everyone this yr and final yr. We wish to compete, to compete attempting to be a protagonist on this competitors. Now we have a really big alternative arriving right here to play day seven with 13 factors.
“I feel we want three or 4 extra factors to get the highest eight. Our goal is to be within the high eight and tomorrow is the important thing. Firstly as a result of Monaco has a possibility if they’re beating us to get 16 factors and perhaps they might be within the high eight as nicely.
“Our alternative and our goal is to not get 16 – we’ll attempt to get 19 factors as a result of with that we are going to be there for certain. How we’re enjoying this competitors is an important factor, attempting to get pleasure from every second; attempting to deal with every match; attempting to point out our capability and the way we are able to face the most effective groups on the earth.”
Aston Villa: The membership have angrily rejected a second bid from West Ham for Jhon Durán out of hand, with Villa adamant the striker, who they worth at about £100m, isn’t on the market. Duran signed a brand new contract till 2030 in October final yr. Ben Fisher studies from Monaco …
Tonight’s match officers
These groups: As anticipated, Amadou Onana sits this one out for Villa by means of damage, with Youri Tielemans anticipated to fit into his midfield berth. Lucas Digne is available in at left-back for Ian Maatsen, whereas Leon Bailey can be within the aspect with Jacob Ramsey making manner.
Monaco duo Wilfried Zingo and Denis Zakaria each begin regardless of pre-match doubts about their health, whereas Folarin Balogun misses out with a shoulder damage. Former Liverpool and Southampton midfielder Takumi Minamino additionally begins for Monaco.
Monaco v Aston Villa line-ups
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
Aston Villa: Martínez; Money, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Buendia; Bailey, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins.
Subs: Gauci, Olsen, Duran, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Bogarde, Ramsey, Swinkels, Younger
Monaco type information: Fourth in Ligue1, 15 factors behind leaders PSG, Monaco are managed by the Austrian Adi Hutter and are available into this sport having gained simply two of their final 11 video games in all competitions. The newest of these victories got here within the French Cup towards Union Saint-Jean, a French regional aspect. Extra just lately, on Friday to be precise, Hutter’s aspect had been crushed by Montpelier, who’re at present rock-bottom of the French high flight.
Their outcomes on this season’s Champions League have been largely respectable however combined, with Hutter masterminding victories over Barcelona, Pink Star and Bologna, whereas watching his workforce lose their two most up-to-date video games towards Benfica and Arsenal. Within the second sport of their marketing campaign, away at Dinamo Zagreb, Monaco secured their solely draw up to now. Of the 4 Ligue1 groups within the Champions League, Monaco (sixteenth) are behind Brest (seventh) and Lille (eighth) however forward of PSG (twenty fifth).
Early workforce information
Villa midfielder John McGinn is again in coaching after recovering from a thigh damage however is unlikely to function on this match. Amadou Onana, who pulled up with a hamstring damage throughout Villa’s draw at Arsenal on Saturday can be more likely to miss out. Ross Barkley and Pau Torres are additionally sidelined, whereas Diego Carlos is suspended. New signing Donyell Malen is cup-tied till the knockout levels, having already performed 5 group video games on this season’s competitors for Borussia Dortmund.
Whereas Lamare Bogarde impressed after changing Onana towards Arsenal, he might should accept a spot on the bench once more if Emery decides to play Youri Tielemans in a extra withdrawn position and produce Leon Bailey into the aspect.
Monaco have damage considerations of their very own, with Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena and former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun each attributable to miss out by means of damage. Senegalese winger Krepin Diatta can be out, whereas the participation of defenders Wilfried Singo and Denis Zakaria can be unsure.
Preamble: Monaco v Aston Villa – Champions League
The Stade Louis II is the venue for this encounter between Monaco and Aston Villa within the penultimate spherical of group video games of this season’s all-singing, all-dancing new Champions League format.
It’s the primary ever aggressive match between these two sides and a win for Villa, at present in fifth place within the 36-team desk, would go a great distance in direction of reserving their place among the many eight groups who qualify mechanically for the final 16.
Defeat for Unai Emery’s aspect would transfer Monaco, at present in sixteenth place, degree on factors with Villa and vastly improve their possibilities of reserving a spot within the high eight with only one extra group match away at Inter to go. A draw might be ok for Monaco to ensure their place within the knockout levels, if not the Spherical of 16. There’s a lot at stake on the French Riviera this night, the place kick-off is at 5.45pm (GMT).
