The Matchday 7 fixture of the 2024/25 Champions League group stage between Monaco (France) and Aston Villa (England) will take place on January 21 at the Louis II Stadium in Fontvieille. Monaco vs. Aston Villa: prediction and betting odds, statistics.
Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)
Matches – 7 (International matches, 2024/25);
Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 26;
Average yellow cards per match – 3.7;
Red cards shown – 0;
Average fouls per match – 23;
Penalties – 14%.
Predicted lineups for Monaco vs. Aston Villa
Monaco (4-2-3-1): Radoslaw Majecki – Vanderson, Thilo Kehrer, Wilfried Singo, Caio Henrique – Denis Zakaria, Lamine Camara – Takumi Minamino, Eliesse Ben Seghir, Aleksandr Golovin – Breel Embolo.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Emiliano Martinez – Lucas Digne, Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings – Youri Tielemans, Boubacar Kamara – Morgan Rogers, Amadou Onana, Leon Bailey – Ollie Watkins.
Monaco
The Monégasques had a strong start in the Champions League group stage, securing three wins and one draw in their first four matches. However, in their last two tournament games, the French club lost at home to Benfica (2-3) and away to Arsenal (0-3). As a result, Adi Hütter's team has slipped to 16th place in the standings, with a gap of only three points from the 25th position. Notably, before the defeat to the Gunners, the team hadn't suffered a heavy loss in the Champions League for six years.
Forward Folarin Balogun and midfielder Krépin Diatta are sidelined due to injuries.
- At least three goals were scored in regular time in 6 of Monaco's last 7 matches in this European competition.
- Both teams scored in 7 of the last 9 games involving the French side in the Champions League.
- The Monégasques have not won the first half in 11 of their last 13 home matches in this tournament (3 draws and 8 losses).
Aston Villa
The Birmingham side secured an important victory in the last round, defeating Leipzig 3-2 away. Before this, the English team had failed to score in two consecutive Champions League matches, losing away to Club Brugge (0-1) and drawing with Juventus (0-0). The win over the Germans helped maintain their place in the top eight. A victory in the upcoming match will secure Aston Villa a spot in the Champions League playoffs. It's also worth noting the defense of Unai Emery's side, which has conceded only three goals (only three teams have a better defense in the group stage).
Defender Diego Carlos will miss the match due to yellow card accumulation. Midfielders Ross Barkley and John McGinn, along with defender Pau Torres, are out due to injuries.
- At least one team failed to score in 5 of Aston Villa's last 6 matches in this European competition.
- No more than three goals were scored in 5 of Aston Villa's last 6 Champions League matches.
- All five of the English side's last matches in this tournament ended in a first-half draw.
Monaco vs. Aston Villa: Match Prediction
The hosts' chances of advancing to the next round of the Champions League will diminish if they drop points. I predict this will happen, as Monaco has only recorded one win against a worthy opponent in the group stage, defeating Barcelona at the start of the tournament. The Monégasques lack consistency in this elite European competition and rarely beat teams from Europe's top leagues. Notably, in their last 26 Champions League matches, Monaco has only won five times in regular time (7 draws and 14 losses).
Aston Villa has only faltered once in the Champions League – against Club Brugge. The English side has already demonstrated their strength against top clubs: drawing with Juventus and securing victories over Bayern Munich and Leipzig. I am confident that Unai Emery's team can take points from Louis II, as the visitors can afford to play defensively with an eye on a draw, unlike the hosts, for whom a compromise result is unacceptable, as they face Inter in the final round. The urgency and determination to secure three points will work against the French side. I am sure the Birmingham team will catch them on the counterattack.
My prediction – "Aston Villa to win or draw"
