Aston Villa suffered a blow to their hopes of securing a spot within the prime eight of the Champions League after dropping 1-0 away at Monaco.
Wilfried Singo’s header within the eighth minute proved the completely different on the Stade Louis II as an underwhelming Villa aspect misplaced for the second time of their European marketing campaign.
The consequence leaves Unai Emery’s males clinging onto their top-eight place with nearly all of their Champions League rivals nonetheless to play on Matchday 7. The Midlands aspect face Celticat house of their remaining group sport.
Monaco, in the meantime, have climbed as much as ninth within the standings as they went degree on factors with Villa and bolstered their hopes of robotically reaching the final 16.
The guests loved the higher of the early exchanges nevertheless it was Monaco who went forward first when Singo headed in from shut vary after Emiliano Martinez had initially saved from Breel Embolo’s header.
Aston Villa go behind inside ten minutes 👀
Wilfried Singo is alert to move Emiliano Martínez’s preliminary save over the road, giving Monaco an early lead!
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Villa appeared unsettled by aim as they made various sloppy misplaced passes, one from Ezri Konsa forcing a powerful save from Martinez to thwart Maghnes Alkiouche’s shot.
The guests settled once more and have been on prime for a lot of the second half, albeit with out carving out too many alternatives. Lucas Digne tried his luck with a free-kick from 25 yard however his well-struck effort was simply gathered.
Leon Bailey was then unlucky to not degree the rating from shut vary after a pleasant ball from Emiliano Buendia discovered the Jamaican by way of a wise Ollie Watkins contact.
The perfect probability of the half for Villa got here on the loss of life when Watkins was fed via by one other nice Bunedia via ball however the Villa striker’s shot was saved by goalkeeper Radosław Majecki right down to his proper.
A superb mixture between Emi Buendía and Ollie Watkins, however the Villa striker sees his effort pushed around the publish 😫
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There was then time for Monaco to overlook a gilt-etched probability when Alkiouche couldn’t preserve his shot down after discovering achres of house from shut vary.
Villa began the second half nicely as Watkins raced clear down the left earlier than discovering Morgan Rogers, who couldn’t fairly bend his effort contained in the publish with the surface of his boot.
Alkiouche then thought he had made it 2-0 after tapping house from shut vary however the 22-year-old made his run too early and was flagged for offside.
Emery launched Jhon Duran to play alongside Watkins to attempt to encourage Villa nevertheless it proved in vein, with possibilities few and much between within the remaining half hour of the encounter.
Matty Money was fed via on aim by Rogers however the right-back might solely scuff his shot extensive.