With Embolo and Zakaria, Monaco offers itself a future in Europe

With its captain Denis Zakaria and Breel Embolo starting, Monaco ensured, on Tuesday evening, its qualification for the knockout phase of the Champions League by beating Aston Villa (1-0) thanks to a goal from Wilfried Singo, during the 7th and penultimate day of the league phase.

This victory, acquired through pain, allows the Monegasques to join their evening opponent in the standings with 13 points. Above all, it allows us to seal qualification at least for the accession play-offs to the 1/8 finals, and to travel without much pressure, next week, to Milan, to challenge Inter, the reigning Italian champion. , during the final day of the competition.

In great difficulty in recent weeks in Ligue 1 and in the Champions League, where the team suffered two consecutive defeats (3-2 against Benfica at home and 3-0 at Arsenal), Monaco therefore woke up at the best of times .

After scoring in the 8th minute, Singo and his teammates valiantly defended their lead. Despite clear English domination, they often folded, but never cracked. Like their goalkeeper, Radoslaw Majecki, author of some classy saves, they remained focused and attentive throughout the match.

The return of the captains, Denis Zakaria and Wilfried Singo, stabilized the Principality team from the start of the match. And this allowed Hütter’s men to quickly take the measure of their opponents, where French internationals Lucas Digne and Boubacar Kamara had started.

The latter was also beaten by Singo on the Monegasque goal (1-0, 8th). After a corner obtained by Maghnès Akliouche and struck by Lamine Camara, Thilo Kehrer, with a beautiful header at the near post, forced Emiliano Martinez to push the ball away with a reflex save. Singo was the quickest to react to give his team the advantage.

With this advantage, the Monegasques pushed a little further. Martinez made a fabulous save on Akliouche’s attempt (15th). Then they cowered.

Gradually, the machine from Birmingham got underway. With a dominant midfield where Morgan Rogers gained strength, Villa took possession of the Monegasque camp and began unchallenged domination until the break, with great opportunities.

First, Digne hit a free kick that Majecki mastered without problem (32nd). Then, Leon Bailey beat Christian Mawissa, returning to competition after a hamstring injury contracted in Reims (0-0) in mid-December in the championship. But the Jamaican failed in front of a very good Majecki (37th).

The Polish goalkeeper was again decisive when Argentinian midfielder Emiliano Buendia served Ollie Watkins perfectly. The English striker’s attempt was once again deflected for a corner by the Monegasque goalkeeper (45th+3).

As soon as the restart, the Villans resumed their domination. Rogers tried his luck again, but his shot from the outside of his foot was not on target (47th). Monaco held on. Hütter even allowed himself the luxury of finishing the meeting with the Magassa-Teze pairing as a duo of central defensive midfielders, and with the young Lucas Michal, up front.

Even if the few counter opportunities were poorly negotiated by Takumi Minamino (64th) or Aleksandr Golovin (75th and 89th), Hütter is satisfied with them. His team finally lived up to his demands. It just goes to show that the Champions League also knows how to transcend players in difficulty.

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