The battle for the Champions League’s top eight continues to heat up after Monaco secured a 1-0 win against Aston Villa to move level on points with Unai Emery’s side.
Villa are now precariously balanced in eighth, protected only by a superior goal difference, after previously looking set to avoid the knockout stages of the play-offs.
The two teams were separated by eight places heading into the clash at the Stade Louis II, but that was quickly reduced to two places either side of the top eight thanks to Wilfried Singo’s header inside the first 10 minutes.
An unforced error by Tyrone Mings led to a corner for the home side, and despite a stunning save from Emiliano Martinez to deny Thilo Kehrer early on, the Argentina keeper could do nothing for the rebound.
His partner at the other end, Radoslaw Majecki, also played his part to ensure the lead remained intact at the break, getting down well to his right to tip Ollie Watkins’ only chance around the post.
Not even John Duran’s 56th-minute substitution could spark Villa into life, with the visitors posing little threat after the restart apart from Matty Cash’s effort which went wide.
For Monaco, it was another win at home against an English side that fuels their chances of automatic progression.
They have now won five of their last six home games against Premier League opposition, with Villa joining Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Emery: When we played two strikers, we didn’t threaten that much
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery:
“Maybe you can be here for two days and explain it (the loss). We played 70 minutes like I wanted. They had good passes.
“We were linking up with our two number 10s, but we were attacking through the middle and we got into their box and created three good chances. When we were playing with two forwards, we were losing our position and not threatening them that much.”
Villa’s Champions League future depends on Celtic.
Sky Sports Patrick Rowe.
Historic wins against Young Boys, Bayern Munich, Bologna and RB Leipzig have meant Emery’s men are fully focused on the top eight, but after losing to Club Brugge and now Monaco, as well as Juventus After a disappointing 0-0 draw, their chances now hang in the balance for next week’s home game against Celtic regarding.
Emery was dreaming of his side reaching 19 points before the latest defeat, but admitted 16 could be enough to pull them over the line.
Attention will now quickly turn to the likes of Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, but next Wednesday Villa must be miles ahead of the level they displayed on Tuesday night.
Sunday, January 26 at 4:00 p.m
Start: 16:30
They looked off the pace against Monaco as would be expected after giving their all against Arsenal on Saturday, but they will face a similar challenge in the coming days.
Sandwiched between this defeat and Brendan Rodgers’ side’s visit to the Second City, Villa host West Ham Live on Sky Sportsin a game of equal importance given the battle for the Premier League’s top four.
The games continue to come thick and fast, but a place in the last 16 in Europe is not guaranteed.
What happens if Villa don’t finish in the top eight?
Teams from 9th to 24th enter two rounds of play-offs in February, with the winners of the 16th taking the remaining eight spots.
Those from 9th to 16th will win the playoffs, so they will play the second leg at home. Those from 17th to 24th will be unseeded, so play the first leg at home.
“Monaco” players celebrate Singo’s goal
Does it matter how high Villa are from 9th to 24th?
The new Champions League format means that the team that finishes in 9th place will face the team in 24th place in the play-off stage, with 10th playing 23rd, 11th playing 22nd and so on.
So if you just miss out on a top eight finish, the kick will be diluted by playing the worst performing teams out of the league stage, so the higher you finish, the “easier” game you get.
However, with the likes of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain struggling in the league stage, Villa could face the top sides in the play-off stages.
