Aston Villa travel to Monaco for the penultimate matchday of the Champions League stage on Tuesday evening.
It was a memorable return to Europe’s top club competition for Villa, who took a big step towards qualifying for the last 16 by beating RB Leipzig 3-2 last time out. Unai Emery’s side have won four of their six league games, with their continental campaign highlighted by a 1-0 win over Bayern Munich.
Villa now face the Ligue 1 side, having fought back from 2-0 down to earn a point Arsenal at Premier League on Saturday.
Back-to-back defeats in this competition mean Monaco will likely have to endure the knock-out play-offs to reach the last 16. After a strong start to their second season under Andy Hutter, Monaco’s form has picked up in the new year and beaten from The last of Ligue 1 Montpellier on Friday night.
Monaco – Aston Villa H2H results
This is Monaco’s first competitive meeting with Aston Villa.
Current form (all competitions)
|
Monaco |
Aston Villa |
|---|---|
|
Montpellier 2-1 Monaco – 17/01/25 |
Arsenal 2-2 Aston Villa – 18/01/25 |
|
Reims 1-1 (3-1p) Monaco – 14/01/25 |
Everton 0-1 Aston Villa – 15/01/25 |
|
Nantes 2-2 Monaco – 25/10/01 |
Aston Villa 2-1 West Ham – 01/10/25 |
|
PSG 1-0 Monaco – 01/05/25 |
Aston Villa 2-1 Leicester – 01/04/25 |
|
Union Saint-Jean 1-4 Monaco – 22/12/24 |
Aston Villa 2-2 Brighton – 30/12/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Discovery+, Discovery+ App, TNT Sports 1 |
|
United States |
Paramount+, fuboTV, TUDN.com, Univision NOW, TUDN App, TUDN USA, UniMas |
|
Canada |
DAZN Canada |
The hosts have some problems in attack, with Hutter relying on experienced Swiss striker Breel Embolo in front of a young creative trio.
Monaco are without former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun with a shoulder injury and emerging star George Ilenikena with a muscle problem.
Wilfried Shingo and Denis Zakaria missed Friday night’s disappointing defeat at Montpellier and are doubts for Villa’s visit.
Monaco predicted line-up against Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Majecki? Vanderson, Salisu, Kehrer, Henry; CHAMBER, Magassa; Akliouche, Golovin, Ben Seghir; Plunger.
John McGinn has recovered from a hamstring injury and could feature on Tuesday after returning to Villa training. However, a place in the starting line-up is unlikely.
Lucas Digne should replace Ian Maatsen at left-back, while Leon Bailey is also pushing for a return to the squad despite Jacob Ramsey’s return from injury.
Donyell Malen was an unused substitute at the weekend, having just arrived from Borussia Dortmund. Emery should give the Dutchman his debut here.
Jhon Duran could return to the team to give Ollie Watkins some rest.
Aston Villa predicted line-up against Monaco (4-2-3-1):Martinez? Cash, Konsa, Minga, Digne? Kamara, Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, Duran, Rogers.
The villa was rather patchy inside but looked comfortable Champions League and they can all but secure their place in the last 16 with a win here.
Emery’s acumen on individual occasions has paid off, with Villa able to raise their game on the big occasion.
They face a dynamic and vertical Monaco side on Tuesday, but one that is young and out of form. The home side will have their moments and Villa may have to weather a few storms, but Emery’s knowledge will see them through another tough European away day.
