Monaco vs Aston Villa match preview
Out of shape domestically and within the Champions League, Monaco are three factors from the automated spherical of 16 and elimination locations as Adi Hutter’s aspect search to keep away from three straight losses in Europe at residence to Aston Villa on Tuesday (5.45pm GMT).
Following a 2-1 defeat at Montpellier on Friday that has left them winless in 4 matches in 2025, Hutter denied that his gamers had been distracted by the prospect of going through the 1981/82 European champions on the penultimate matchday.
“I’ve numerous respect for Montpellier however we would have liked to impose ourselves to regain confidence,” the Austrian mentioned after his aspect spurned a lead on the backside aspect in Ligue 1, gifting Musa Al-Taamari the equaliser.
“Tuesday will probably be a very completely different match: it’s the Champions League at residence, however I don’t assume the workforce already had Aston Villa in thoughts.
“We have been dominant within the first half. We have been the higher workforce. And after the [equaliser] and the best way we conceded it, I began to see unhealthy physique language… we [then] solely managed to be harmful within the final minutes.”
Villa are eighth within the Premier League after a contrasting story on Saturday, recovering from 2-0 behind after 59 minutes at title hopefuls Arsenal to safe a 2-2 draw courtesy of two objectives inside 9 minutes from Ollie Watkins and Youri Tielemans.
They’re inside the Champions League automated development locations by some extent, helped by Ross Barkley’s Eighty fifth-minute winner in a 3-2 win at Leipzig on December 10.
“Arsenal have been the higher workforce, however Villa got here again and performed out a draw,” mentioned Hutter, observing that counterpart Unai Emery has gained the Europa League thrice with Sevilla and as soon as with Villarreal.
“[Emiliano] Martinez is an unbelievable goalkeeper. [Morgan] Rogers is a improbable quantity 10, [with Jhon] Duran and Watkins because the strikers.
“Tielemans is the pacemaker within the centre of midfield. We additionally should be very cautious with each purpose on this league section. Each purpose will be decisive.”
Monaco vs Villa workforce information
Folarin Balogun is a long-term absentee for Monaco following shoulder surgical procedure, whereas fellow ahead George Ilenikhena is out with a muscular downside.
Winger Krepin Diatta shouldn’t be match, and defender Thilo Kehrer – who scored in opposition to Montpellier – will probably be suspended if he’s booked.
“If we drop our depth, the coach will completely homicide us,” mentioned striker Breel Embolo, through Birmingham Dwell. “Groups are displaying us extra respect and opponents are defending extra tightly. We’ve got to adapt ourselves.
“We’re nonetheless the identical workforce we have been three months in the past. We’ve got the identical coach and gamers. It’s an opportunity to place issues proper.”
Midfielders Amadou Onana and John McGinn are doubts for Villa, who’re with out defenders Diego Carlos (suspension) and Pau Torres (ankle), in addition to playmaker Barkley due to a calf damage.
Duran, who was reportedly the topic of a £57 million bid from West Ham on Monday, will probably be suspended for the go to of Celtic on January 29 (8pm) if the ahead is booked.
New signing Donyell Malen can’t be registered for the Champions League till the knockout stage.
Monaco vs Aston Villa anticipated line-ups
Monaco: Majecki; Caio Henrique, Kehrer, Singo, Vanderson; Camara, Zakaria; Ben Seghir, Golovin, Akliouche; Embolo
Aston Villa: Martinez; Money, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Bailey, Tielemans, Ramsey; Watkins
Prediction
On the sharp finish of the league section, victory for both aspect could possibly be vastly essential to their ambitions of progressing routinely by ending as one of many prime eight groups within the new 36-team single-table format.
A lot may depend upon whether or not Monaco can rediscover the shape they discovered at the beginning of the marketing campaign, taking 10 factors from a attainable 12 and beating Barcelona and Crvena zvezda at residence.
Hutter’s aspect have been briefly prime in France as a part of an eight-game unbeaten begin in Ligue 1, however they’ve misplaced 5 and drawn two of 10 league matches since then, in addition to struggling successive European defeats at residence to Benfica and at Arsenal.
On their first marketing campaign within the fashionable Champions League, Villa’s solely defeat got here away, shedding at Membership Brugge, whereas their defensive file is the fourth-best on this season’s competitors.
Against this, solely three groups within the prime 23 have let in additional objectives than the ten conceded by Monaco, who misplaced 4-2 to Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 of their solely residence recreation since December 7.
The 2003/04 finalists is not going to need to go to Inter on the ultimate matchday in an uncomfortably shut place to the underside eight elimination positions, and so they have a helpful file in opposition to English opponents, successful 11 and drawing six of their 21 conferences.
Villa have gained thrice and twice drawn 2-2 of their final 5 video games. Anticipate them to repeat the defensive rigour they’ve proven in Europe this season in a 1-1 draw.