Aston Villa suffered a major blow to their hopes of securing a place in the Champions League top eight after losing 1-0 away at Monaco.
Wilfried Singo’s eighth-minute header proved the difference at the Stade Louis II as a disappointing Villa side lost for the second time in their European campaign.
The result leaves Unai Emery’s men clinging to their top eight finish with the majority of their Champions League rivals still to play on Matchday 7. The Midlands side will face Celtic at home in their final group game.
Monaco, meanwhile, moved up to ninth in the table by being level on points with Villa and boosting their hopes of automatically reaching the knockout stages.
The visitors enjoyed the better of the early exchanges, but it was Monaco who took the lead first when Singo headed from close range after Emiliano Martinez had initially saved Breel Embolo’s header.
Aston Villa go behind in ten minutes 👀
Wilfried Singo is alert to head Emiliano MartÃnez’s first save off the line, giving Monaco an early lead!
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– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 21, 2025
Villa looked unsettled by the goal as they made a number of misplaced passes, one from Ezri Konsa forcing a powerful save from Martinez to thwart Maghnes Alkiouche’s shot.
The visitors settled in again and dominated for much of the second half, although without creating too many chances. Lucas Digne tries his luck with a free kick from 25 meters but his well-struck shot is easily recovered.
Leon Bailey was then unlucky not to level the score from close range after a lovely ball from Emiliano Buendia found the Jamaican via a clever touch from Ollie Watkins.
Villa’s best chance of the half came at the death when Watkins was crossed by another superb ball from Bunedia, but the Villa striker’s shot was saved by goalkeeper RadosÅ‚aw Majecki to his right.
A great combination between Emi BuendÃa and Ollie Watkins, but the Villa striker sees his shot pushed around the post 😫
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– Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 21, 2025
It was then time for Monaco to miss a chance etched in gold when Alkiouche couldn’t keep his shot out after finding miles of space from close range.
Villa started the second half well as Watkins rushed down the left before finding Morgan Rogers, who was unable to bend his effort inside the post with the outside of his boot.
Alkiouche then thought he had made it 2-0 after scoring from close range, but the 22-year-old ran too early and was flagged for offside.
Emery introduced Jhon Duran to play alongside Watkins in an attempt to inspire Villa, but it proved effective, with chances rare in the final half hour of the encounter.
Matty Cash was thrown through on goal by Rogers, but the right-back could only keep his shot wide.
