Monaco vs Aston Villa Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Monaco play an entertaining brand of football but their form has majorly dipped in recent months ahead of welcoming an inconsistent but still strong Aston Villa side this week.
Kick-off date/time: Tuesday 21st January, 2025: UK – 5:45pm / US ET – 12:45pm / US PT – 9:45am
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – CBS Sports
How to watch online: UK – Discovery+ / US – Paramount+ & Amazon Prime
Monaco Preview: Flailing Monegasque
Former Borussia Monchengladbach boss Monaco come into this one on the back of a 2-1 defeat away to Montpellier Herault at the weekend in which they led at half-time via Thilo Kehrer but conceded twice in the second-half due to a brace scored by Mousa Al Tamari.
The hosts have now managed just one win in their last eight matches across all competitions and that came against lower league side L’Union Saint-Jean before Christmas. Their form has dripped off ever since the middle of autumn, too.
Aston Villa Preview: Difficult to beat
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa most recently shared an impressive 2-2 draw away at the Emirates Stadium in which they fought back from 2-0 down against so-called title challengers Arsenal thanks to second-half goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.
The Villains have not been as convincing as they were last season and they have been generally a little underwhelming as they battle on multiple fronts but that draw means they have now suffered just two defeats in their last 11 matches across all competitions.
Monaco Team News: Zakaria a doubt
Switzerland international defensive midfielder is a doubt for this weekend as he deals with illness. They are dealing with a few injury concerns ahead of the visit of Villa, too, such as Wilfried Singo, Krepin Diatta and Folarin Balogun.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Majecki; Teze, Kehrer, Salisu, Ouattara; Magassa, Camara; Akliouche, Minamino, Ben Seghir; Embolo
Unavailable: Singo (Injured), Ilenikhena (Injured), Diatta (Injured), Balogun (Injured)
Questionable: Zakaria (Illness)
Aston Villa Team News: Still no McGinn
Former Sevilla defender Diego Carlos is both unavailable due to injury and is missing through suspension for this week. Fellow centre-back Pau Torres is sidelined through injury, too, alongside both Ross Barkley and club captain John McGinn.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Onana; Rogers, Tielemans, Ramsey; Watkins
Unavailable: Carlos (Suspended), Torres (Injured), Barkley (Injured), McGinn (Injured)
Questionable:
Key Stats
- This is the first UEFA competition match between these two teams.
- Monaco have lost only one of their last eight UEFA competition matches at home against English teams (W5 D2).
- This is Monaco’s first UEFA competition home game against an English team since the 2016/17 round of 16 second leg, when they beat Manchester City 3-1 to progress on away goals after a 6-6 aggregate draw.
- Monaco have won 49 matches in European Cup/UEFA Champions League history (includes qualifying). Paris (84) and Lyon (65) are the only French teams to have reached the landmark of 50 wins.
- Monaco have lost their last two UEFA Champions League matches. The last time they lost three successive UEFA competition matches was in the 2018/19 UEFA Champions League group stage.
- None of Monaco’s last 44 UEFA Champions League matches (including qualifying) finished without a goal being scored. The last occasion was against at home against Juventus in the 2014/15 quarter-finals.
- Despite their home defeat against Benfica on Matchday 5, Monaco have still won four of their last six UEFA competition matches at home (L2).
- Monaco have scored 18 goals in their last six UEFA competition matches at home – an average of three goals per game.
- Monaco have won only two of their last 11 matches in all competitions (D3 L6).
- Aston Villa are without a win in their previous four UEFA competition matches away from home against French teams (D2 L2).
- Aston Villa have lost only one of their previous six UEFA Champions League matches this season (W4 D1).
- Aston Villa have lost only one of their last 11 group/league matches in UEFA competitions (W8 D2).
- Aston Villa have won two of their previous three UEFA Champions League matches away from home this season (L1).
- Unai Emery has won each of this last six matches against Monaco as a coach – all with Paris.
- Aston Villa have lost only two of their last 11 matches in all competitions (W7 D2).
- Aston Villa have won three and drawn one of their four competitive matches in 2025.
- Aston Villa have scored two or more goals in six of their last nine matches in all competitions.
Monaco vs Aston Villa Prediction
Adi Hutter has signed a new deal at Monaco in the last month but the principality club have significantly underperformed in the last few months as they drift away from a Ligue 1 title race. They have suffered back-to-back defeats in this competition to put their qualification for the top 24 in doubt. Aston Villa, on the other hand, begin the seventh match day sitting tucked inside the top eight with four victories, a draw and a defeat in their opening six matches with a double chance bet in their favour seemingly a good value bet.
Monaco vs Aston Villa Tip: Double chance – Aston Villa to win or draw