Monaco vs Aston Villa

A place in the UEFA Champions League knockouts is on the line as Monaco and Aston Villa go head-to-head at the Stade Louis II. 

Monaco’s hopes of securing a top-eight finish in the newly formatted league phase are in tatters as they’ve followed up a four-game unbeaten start (W3, D1) with back-to-back defeats, conceding precisely three goals on both occasions. Confidence comes from the fact they’ve never capitulated 3+ times in three consecutive outings at Europe’s top table. However, Monaco’s form in the build-up to this high-stakes duel makes it for unenviable reading, with Adi Hutter’s side riding on a four-game winless run (D1, L3), being dumped out of two domestic cup competitions while losing ground on the Ligue 1 top three. ‘Les Monégasques’ can find inspiration in their recent home form against English visitors, going unbeaten in seven of their last nine European meetings with Premier League opposition on this ground (W5, D2). 

In the meantime, Aston Villa’s pursuit of consecutive top-four finishes in the Premier League received a morale boost at the weekend as they hauled back a two-goal deficit to hold Arsenal to a 2-2 draw, extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to five games (W3, D2). Back to the European front, where they’ve only lost one of their opening six matches this season (W4, D1), Unai Emery’s men seek three points to fortify their ambition to secure automatic knockout qualification. That can prove easier said than done, considering the Lions have never won a European clash on French soil (D2, L2). Emery could lead them to a historic win after beating Monaco in six consecutive managerial H2Hs.