Winners against Aston Villa, AS Monaco advance to the UCL play-offs!

At the end of a suspenseful game, after leading the entire match thanks to Wilfried Singo, the Rouge et Blanc won against the Villans (1-0), punching their ticket for the Champions League play-offs.

Next stop: the play-offs! After a very serious match against a great Aston Villa team, the AS Monaco players won (1-0) to secure their place in the knockout round of the Champions League. It was a top-flight performance to perfectly kick off the year 2025 at home, under the eyes of HSH Prince Albert II and President Dmitry Rybolovlev, who were present at the Stade Louis-II, a President Rybolovlev who came to the locker room after the match to congratulate the Rouge et Blanc for the fight they showed and for this great reaction. ✍️

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The context 📅

Currently in a tough run of form, the Rouge et Blanc wanted to seize an opportunity to bounce back against the Villans for two reasons: to win for the first time in 2025 and also to punch their ticket for at least the play-offs of this Champions League. It was a mission that promised to be difficult, against the current fifth-place side, who had notably beaten Bayern Munich in this phase of the league, and has just drawn against Arsenal at the Emirates in the Premier League (2-2).

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

The XI 👥

To face this major challenge, Adi Hütter welcomed the returns of his captain and Wilfried Singo to the starting eleven, lined up in a classic 4-2-3-1. Singo took his place in central defense alongside Thilo Kehrer, while Christian Mawissa started at left back. Finally the trio of Maghnes – Takumi – Eliesse played in support of the Monégasque #36.

The scenario 🎞

The match started at a Champions League pace, with a first dangerous foray forward by the English (6′). But Maghnes Akliouche obtained a corner which found the head of Thilo Kehrer, which Emiliano Martinez could only push to Wilfried Singo, who was sharp to react (1-0, 8′)! It was an early goal for the Rouge et Blanc,  and the second in the Champions League for the Ivorian after his incredible strike against Red Star Belgrade.

Akliouche is close to a second

This goal galvanized our Monégasques as Eliesse Ben Seghir was even close to offering setting up his friend also trained at the Academy, who forced the Argentinian goalkeeper into a huge save (15′). But the Villans reacted, first from Morgan Rogers (18′), then on a direct free kick by Lucas Digne (31′). It was then finally Leon Bailey who was close to scoring, but his curling effort was punched clear by a vigilant Radoslaw Majecki (37′).

Clear chances on both sides

Half-time was finally whistled after two very good chances: Ollie Watkins saw his shot across goal deflected by Radeck (45 + 3′), before Maghnes Akliouche missed the target on a ball in from Takumi Minamino (45 + 4′). The restart was also eventful, with a very clear chance for Rogers, whose outside of the boot effort grazed the left post (47′). Then Maghnes Akliouche, before being flagged offside, nearly doubled the lead (50′).

New energy from the bench

The chances came one another before the hour mark and through the first changes, but Matty Cash’s header did not deceive the Monaco goalkeeper (59th). Soungoutou Magassa and Aleksandr Golovin then offered fresh blood and the Russian winger had an effort from range which was caught by Mings (74′). There was then no more success for Breel Embolo in an acrobatic effort from a corner (75′).

Qualification and an explosion of joy!

The tension was strong as added time approached, even if Golo’ came close to killing all suspense but only found the side netting (89′). But the last English attempt was from Durán and it changed nothing, and AS Monaco had a crucial victory against Aston Villa, synonymous with qualification for the knockouts of the Champions League.  DAGHE MUNEGU!!! 🇲🇨

Key moments 🎥

6′: Digne crosses but Bailey’s header is caught by Majecki
7′: Akliouche’s shot is deflected by Konsa for a corner
8′: Singo opens the scoring with a header after a deflection by Martinez on a corner (1-0)
15′: Ben Seghir cuts the ball back to Akliouche who forces Martinez into a diving save
18′: Rogers’ shot goes over the crossbar
31′: Digne’s free kick is caught by Majecki
37′: Bailey’s curling efforrt is punched clear by Majecki for a corner
45+3′: Watkins has a one-on-one with Majecki who keeps it out with a firm hand
45+4′: Minamino plays in Akliouche who doesn’t find the target
47′: Watkins finds Rogers on the right who overhits his outside of the boot effort
50′: Vanderson crosses for Akliouche who scores but from an offside position
59′: Cash’s header at the far post is stopped by Majecki
75′: Golovin has a good run but is blocked by Mings
76′: Embolo’s acrobatic effort from a corner is caught by Martinez
89′: Golovin’s powerful shot finds the side netting
93′: Durán’s acrobatic volley is over the bar

The stat 📊

Wilfried Singo became the first player to score a goal in the Champions League 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.

🗓️ Match details:

Tuesday, January 21 (18:45) – Stade Louis-II

🇪🇺 Champions League – Matchday 7: AS Monaco 1-0 Aston Villa

Halftime: 1-0

Goals: Singo (8′) for AS Monaco

Bookings: Golovin (92′) for AS Monaco; Digne (49′) Rogers (82′) and Kamara (92′) for Aston Villa

AS Monaco: Majecki – Vanderson, Singo, Kehrer, Mawissa – Camara (Magassa, 64′), Zakaria © (Teze, 79′) – Akliouche, Minamino (Michal, 78′), Ben Seghir (Golovin, 65′) – Embolo