Winner of Aston Villa, AS Monaco advances to the C1 play-off!

At the end of the suspense and after having led the entire match thanks to Wilfried Singo, the Rouge et Blanc won against the Villans (1-0), validating their ticket for the Champions League play-offs.

Head to the dams! Authors of a very serious match against a good Aston Villa team, the AS Monaco players won (1-0) to obtain their place in the round of 16 of the Champions League. A high-level performance to perfectly launch the year 2025 at home, under the eyes of HSH Prince Albert II and President Dmitry Rybolovlev, present at the Stade Louis-II. A President Rybolovlev who came into the locker room after the match to congratulate the Red and Whites for the fight they had led and for this great reaction. Report ✍️

Not currently successful, the Rouge et Blanc want to seize the opportunity to bounce back against the Villans for two reasons: winning for the first time in 2025 and validating their ticket for the play-offs of this C1. A mission which promises to be difficult, facing the current 5th in the ranking, which notably brought down Bayern Munich in this league phase, and has just hung Arsenal against the Emirates in the Premier League (2-2).

We will face a Premier League team which has stabilized at the top of the table in recent seasons. And even though Arsenal were the better team this weekend, they managed to grab a draw after being 2-0 down by scoring two fine goals at the Emirates. They also have a good, very good coach in Unai Emery, who won the Europa League four times with Sevilla (3) and Villarreal (1).

To face this major challenge, Adi Hütter records the returns of his captain and Wilfried Singo in the starting lineup, organized in a classic 4-2-3-1 manner. The latter takes place in the central hinge alongside Thilo Kehrer, while Christian Mawissa starts on the left flank. Finally, the trio Maghnes – Takumi – Eliesse is aligned in support of Monegasque number 36.

The match starts with a Champions League pace, with a first dangerous incursion from the English (6th). But Maghnes Akliouche immediately gets a corner which finds the head of Thilo Kehrer, which Emiliano Martinez can only push back on Wilfried Singo, on the lookout (1-0, 8th)! Early opening score for the Rouge et Blanc, with the Ivorian’s second goal in C1 after the Belgrade gem.

This goal galvanizes the Monegasques and Eliesse Ben Seghir and even close to giving the break to his friend also trained at the Academy, who forces the Argentine goalkeeper to make a huge save (15th). But the Villans reacted, first timidly by Morgan Rogers (18th), then with a direct free kick from Lucas Digne (31st). It’s finally Leon Bailey who comes close to scoring, but his curl is slammed by a vigilant Radoslaw Majecki (37th).

Half-time was finally whistled after two very big opportunities: Ollie Watkins saw his cross shot deflected by Radeck (45th+3), before Maghnes Akliouche missed the target on a shift from Takumi Minamino (45th+4). The recovery is also eventful, with a very clear situation for Rogers, whose outside foot touches the left post (47th). Then Maghnes Akliouche, offside, almost doubled the lead (50th).

The situations follow one another before the hour mark and the first changes, but Matty Cash’s header does not deceive the Monegasque goalkeeper (59th). Soungoutou Magassa and Aleksandr Golovin then bring fresh blood and the Russian winger signals his entry from deep but is caught by Mings (74th). No more success for Breel Embolo in an acrobatic manner from a corner (75th).

The tension is felt as added time approaches, even if Golo’ is close to killing all suspense by finding the small net (89th). But the last English attempt by Durán changes nothing, and AS Monaco gleans a crucial victory against Aston Villa, synonymous with qualification for the round of 16 of the Champions League. DAGHE MUNEGU!!! ????????

6th: Digne’s cross for Bailey’s header captured by Majecki 7th: Akliouche’s shot deflected by Konsa for a corner 8th: Singo opens the scoring with a header after a dismissal from Martinez from a corner (1-0) 15th: Ben Seghir’s back serve for Akliouche which sees Martinez relax 18th: Rogers’ strike which passes over the crossbar 31st: Digne’s free kick caught in flight by Majecki 37th: Bailey rolls up his ball which Majecki slams for a corner 45th+3: Watkins presents himself against Majecki who deflects with a firm hand 45th+4: Minamino shifts Akliouche who cannot find the frame 47th: Watkins serves Rogers on the right who crosses too much with his outside foot 50th: Cross from Vanderson for Akliouche who scores in an offside position 59th: Header from Cash at the far post stopped by Majecki 75th: Deep run from Golovin whose shot is tackled by Mings 76th: Embolo’s acrobatic return from a corner captured by Martinez 89th: Strong shot from Golovin in the small net 93rd: Acrobatic return from Durán who goes over

Wilfried Singo became the first player to score a goal in C1 in January since Giovanni Sacco with Juventus against Eintracht Braunschweig on January 31, 1968. AS Monaco will also remain the first French club in history to win a Champions League match in January.

Tuesday January 21 (6:45 p.m.) – Stade Louis-II

???????? Champions League – Day 7: AS Monaco 1-0 Aston Villa

Yellow cards : Golovin (92nd) for AS Monaco; Digne (49th) Rogers (82nd) ​​and Kamara (92nd) for Aston Villa