Monaco v Aston Villa: Champions League – reside | Champions League

74 min: An excellent block from Mings denies Aleksandr Golovin, who pulled the set off from the sting of the six-yard field. Monaco nook.

72 min: Villa nook, received by Duran off Singo the goalscorer. Tielemans sends the ball to the close to submit however his supply is less than scratch. Monaco larrup the ball clear.

71 min: A weak Buendia snap-shot takes a deflection off a Monaco defender and the ball carries by means of to Radoslaw Majecki within the Monaco purpose.

68 min: Rogers performs a pleasant little weighted by means of ball in behind for Matty Money, who had made an excellent run and shoots from a decent(ish) angle. Unable to decide on between energy and finesse, he goes for a mixture of each and sends his low shot vast of the far submit.

64 min: Monaco double-substitution moments after Minamino messes up a good likelihood to double his aspect’s lead. Soungoutou Magassa and Aleksandr Golovin on for Camara and Ben Seghir. Villa substitution: Ian Maatsen comes on for Lucas Digne.

62 min: Villa nook. Digne’s inswinger is cleared on the close to submit, the guests recycle the ball and Rogers is unable to transform a follow-up half-chance I don’t suppose he was anticipating to return his method.

61 min: Minamino runs on the Villa defence down the within left however has his shot blocked by Ezri Konsa when he might need been higher suggested to sq. the ball. Good defending.

59 min: Buendia picks out Digne with a stunning backheel from the byline and his cross his harmlessly headed into the gloves of Radoslaw Majecki by Matty Money. The Villa right-back barely mistimed his leap on the far submit and obtained little energy on his header.

58 min: Lucas Digne has a cross from the left blocked however wins a throw-in. He and Rogers mix to get the ball into the field however Monaco clear with a minimal of fuss.

56 min: Aston Villa substitution: an attention-grabbing one right here, as Jhon Duran comes on for Leon Bailey. Let’s see how he slots in with Ollie Watkins. We don’t typically see the pair of them on the pitch collectively for Villa.

50 min: Monaco have a superb effort dominated out for offside. Akliouce is performed in behind the Villa defence and finishes in a really tidy style. Offside however solely by a whisker. It’s a let-off for Villa.

49 min: Regal movie star fan watch: Prince William, Duke of Cornwall, Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Carrick, Baron of Renfrew, Lord of the Isles, and Prince and Nice Steward of Scotland? Tick. Albert II of Monaco? Tick.

Daenerys Stormborn of the Home Targaryen, First of Her Identify, the Unburnt, Queen of the Andals and the First Males, Khaleesi of the Nice Grass Sea, Breaker of Chains, and Mom of Dragons? Unaccounted for.

47 min: Oof! Buendia and Watkins hyperlink up fantastically down the centre and the latter performs the ball to Rogers in acres of area. The Villa man has to dig the ball out from beneath his ft because it’s barely behind him and does properly to get as shot away. It’s narrowly vast of the far upright.

Second half: Monaco 1-0 Aston Villa

Half-time: Monaco 1-0 Aston Villa

45+3 min: After dogged work by Minamino, Magnes Akliouche receives the ball to ft and has a transparent sight of purpose. He fires over when hitting the goal appeared far simpler. It’s half-time and one suspects it couldn’t have come fast sufficient for Villa.

45+2 min: We’re into added time in a primary half the place Villa haven’t fairly been on the races however will go in for the break only a purpose down.

Or will they?

Watkins latches on to a by means of ball from Tielemans, finds himself in a one-on-one with Monaco goalkeeper Majecki and is denied by an outstanding cease by the Polish goalkeeper, who obtained all the way down to get a robust hand behind the ball.

45 min: Watkins is performed in behind and is clearly offside however the flag doesn’t go up till he goes to floor beneath a non-challenge from Thilo Kehrer.

44 min: Mings is available to shepherd the ball again to the nice and cozy embrace of Emi Martinez as Minamino hassles and harries him within the Villa penalty space.

42 min: Martinez performs the ball lengthy making an attempt to select an opportunistic Watkins run in behind the Monaco defence. Their goalkeeper Majecki is fast to the sting of his space to assert the ball earlier than the Villa striker can get to it.

40 min: In a double-dose of heartwarming information for Villa, Konsa will get again to his ft and his problem on Embolo goes unpunished. Play resumes.

39 min: Breel Embolo tries to drill the ball throughout the face of the Villa purpose beneath stress from Ezri Konsa. Tyrone Mings intercepts and clears however there’s a VAR examine for a potential foul on Embolo by Konsa, who’s receiving therapy after his probably late problem. Determination pending …

37 min: An Ollie Watkins contact on a Tielemans go into the Monaco penalty space and the ball sits up properly for Leon Bailey. His goalbound shot is properly saved by Radoslaw Majecki.

35 min: “I believe it’s Singo with an S, however Zingo with a Z jogs my memory of a enjoyable board sport of visible matching and velocity that I used to play with my youngsters once they have been younger,” writes Peter Oh. “Zingo!!! Thanks for the reminiscence!”

And because of you Peter, in addition to a few different readers, who have gotten in contact to level out my error. And apologies, Wilfried.

32 min: Lucas Digne’s effort is over the wall and on track however doesn’t trigger Monaco goalkeeper Radoslaw Majecki too many issues. The Pole saves comfortably, if slightly theatrically.

30 min: Villa free-kick in an excellent place, about 4 yards outdoors the Monaco penalty space straight in entrance of purpose …

28 min: Villa are visibly rising into this sport after a begin that wasn’t a lot dreadful as simply fairly “meh”. It’s one thing as a result of at one level the match appeared prefer it would possibly go them by and there’s each likelihood their gamers are nonetheless feeling the after-effects of their gruelling match in opposition to Arsenal on Saturday night. Monaco, against this, performed on Friday night time.

25 min: Tielemans tries one other ball excessive, this time making an attempt to select a Buendia run down the within left. The go is barely overhit however Buendia manages to maintain the ball in play. A vaguely promising Villa transfer ends with a low Rogers cross from the left being put out for a nook. Nothing comes of the set-piece.

23 min: Youri Tielemans tries to play a ball from deep excessive for Watkins to flick or head goalwards but it surely’s headed clear by Monaco’s goalscorer, Wilfried Zingo.

22 min: Buendia marks this auspicious event in his profession with a sturdy and unlawful problem on Lamine Camara and is penalised for his troubles. Free-kick for Monaco in the midst of the pitch.

20 min: Ben Seghir sends one other cross into the Villa penalty penalty space from the left but it surely’s comfortably handled by Emi Buendia, who’s making his Champions League debut tonight. Until he isn’t however I’m fairly positive I learn that someplace earlier at present.

17 min: Martinez is named into motion once more, making an excellent save from Maghnes Akliouche, who fired a Eliesse Ben Seghir cross goalwards. The Argentinian dives to his left to claw the ball across the submit. Villa have to get up!

14 min: Whereas Monaco began this match in seventeenth place within the qualification desk, a win right here would draw them stage on factors with Villa, who’re in seventh place.

10 min: Matty Money is fouled by Breel Embolo in what appeared a reasonably innoccuous problem to me. He merely outmuscled the Villa defender as they contested a ball out on the left wing however as is all the time the case, different opinions can be found. The large Swiss striker’s protests of innocence fall on deaf ears.

GOAL! Monaco 1-0 Aston Villa (Singo 8)

7 min: A wonderful Lucas Digne cross from the left is slightly too excessive for Monaco defender Christian Mawissa to attach with and the ball drops properly for Leon Bailey. We’ll charitably say his view was obscured by the burly Monaco defender and that’s why he’s unable to get any energy behind his dreadful header. An excellent likelihood for Villa goes to waste.

5 min: Minamino performs the ball vast to Eliesse Ben Seghir, who’s unable to select Breel Embolo together with his cross from the left wing. Matty Money tidies up on the again for the Villa.

3 min: Leon Bailey miscontrols the ball with a heavy contact and sends it out for a goal-kick after good work from Emi Buendia and Morgan Rogers to drive Villa ahead into Monaco territory.

1 min: Villa play the ball again to Emi Martinez, who’s loudly booed by locals who clearly haven’t forgotten his heroics/antics, which helped deny them victory within the final World Cup. He’ll love that …

Monaco v Aston Villa is go …

Not lengthy now: Skippers Denis Zakaria and Emiliano Martinez lead out their respective sides because the Champions League anthem is performed over the Tannoy. It’s January, we’re nonetheless within the group stage and kick-off is only a minute away.

Shenanigans afoot on the Stade Louis II? As (unhealthy) luck would have it, the sprinklers have been turned on throughout the pre-match warm-up in Monaco, however solely within the half of the pitch the place Aston Villa’s gamers have been doing their rondos, shuttle runs and pre-match taking pictures apply. Little doubt there’s a really harmless clarification …

A brand new Villa recruit: The membership have introduced the signing of Andres Garcia from Spanish second division aspect Levante. In a bid to maintain those that are obliged to dig into the nitty-gritty of switch tittle-tattle for a dwelling, the 21-year-old right-back has moved to Villa Park for an undisclosed variety of years and an undisclosed price. Inform them nothing, Villa!

Youri Tielemans: The previous Leicester midfielder has proved sceptics improper with shows central to the transformation of Unai Emery’s aspect. Ben Fisher reviews …

Adi Hutter speaks: “We now have a possibility in opposition to a giant, massive opponent and tomorrow we are going to face a group within the Premier League who’s steady of their outcomes,” stated Monaco’s head coach in his pre-match press convention. “Arsenal have been the higher group [on Saturday], however Villa got here again and performed out a draw. Unai Emery has received 4 titles in Europe and he has superb gamers.

“Martinez is an unbelievable goalkeeper. Rogers is a unbelievable No10, 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 in the long run may be decisive. We’re going out on the pitch to try to win this sport.

“It could be a shock to see some massive groups beneath the highest eight, however for me Aston Villa was a group who might have competed within the prime eight. They’re actually sturdy, however tomorrow we all know this is essential for us as it’s our final residence sport. We wish to battle and now we have to do that in each scenario.”

Unai Emery speaks: “I believe 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,” stated Villa’s head coach. “Europe is all the time one thing particular as properly and I’m all the time transmitting that to the gamers, making an attempt to really feel it with everyone this yr and final yr. We wish to compete, to compete making an attempt to be a protagonist on this competitors. We now have a really large alternative arriving right here to play day seven with 13 factors.

“I believe we want three or 4 extra factors to get the highest eight. Our goal is to be within the prime 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 prime eight as properly.

“Our alternative and our goal is to not get 16 – we are going to attempt to get 19 factors as a result of with that we are going to be there for positive. How we’re enjoying this competitors is a very powerful factor, making an attempt to get pleasure from every second; making an attempt to concentrate on every match; making an attempt to point out our capability and the way we will face the very best groups on this planet.”

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 reviews from Monaco …

Tonight’s match officers

These groups: As anticipated, Amadou Onana sits this one out for Villa by means of harm, 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 method.

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 harm. Former Liverpool and Southampton midfielder Takumi Minamino additionally begins for Monaco.

Monaco v Aston Villa line-ups

Monaco kind information: Fourth in Ligue1, 15 factors behind leaders PSG, Monaco are managed by the Austrian Adi Hutter and are available into this sport having received simply two of their final 11 video games in all competitions. The newest of these victories got here within the French Cup in opposition to Union Saint-Jean, a French regional aspect. Extra not too long ago, on Friday to be precise, Hutter’s aspect have been crushed by Montpelier, who’re at present rock-bottom of the French prime flight.

Their outcomes on this season’s Champions League have been largely respectable however blended, with Hutter masterminding victories over Barcelona, Pink Star and Bologna, whereas watching his group lose their two most up-to-date video games in opposition to Benfica and Arsenal. Within the second sport of their marketing campaign, away at Dinamo Zagreb, Monaco secured their solely draw thus far. 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 group information

Villa midfielder John McGinn is again in coaching after recovering from a thigh harm however is unlikely to characteristic on this match. Amadou Onana, who pulled up with a hamstring harm throughout Villa’s draw at Arsenal on Saturday can be prone 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 in opposition to Arsenal, he could should accept a spot on the bench once more if Emery decides to play Youri Tielemans in a extra withdrawn position and convey Leon Bailey into the aspect.

Monaco have harm issues of their very own, with Nigerian striker George Ilenikhena and former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun each attributable to miss out by means of harm. 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