Aston Villa suffered a blow to their hopes of securing a place in the Champions League top eight after losing away to Monaco 1-0.
Wilfried Singo's eighth-minute header proved the difference at Stade Louis II as an underwhelming Villa side lost for the second time in their European campaign.
The result leaves Unai Emery's men clinging to their place in the top eight with the majority of their Champions League rivals remaining in the seventh round. The Midlands side face Celtics at home in their final group match.
Meanwhile, Monaco rose to ninth place in the standings after being equal on points with Aston Villa and strengthening its hopes of automatically qualifying for the round of sixteen.
The visitors enjoyed the best of the early kicks but it was Monaco who took the lead first when Singo headed home from close range after Emiliano Martinez had initially blocked a Briel Embolo header.
Aston Villa trails within ten minutes 👀
Wilfried Singo blocks an Emiliano Martinez shot with his head over the goal line, giving Monaco an early lead!
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/CXdtEKFdl2
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 21, 2025
Villa appeared to be unstable in front of goal, as he made a number of incorrect passes, one of which was from Ezri Konsa, forcing Martinez to forcefully block Magnes Al-Kayush's shot.
The visitors returned to calm and controlled the second half, but without creating many chances. Lucas Digne tried his luck with a free-kick from 25 yards but his good shot was easily blocked.
Leon Bailey was then unlucky not to equalize from close range after a beautiful ball from Emiliano Buendia found the Jamaican via a clever touch from Ollie Watkins.
Villa's best chance of the first half came at the death when Watkins set up another fine through ball from Buendia but the Villa striker's shot was blocked by goalkeeper Radoslav Majicki down his right.
Excellent combination between Emi Buendia and Ollie Watkins, but the Villa striker sees his effort go around the post 😫
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/aIArvEd6rI
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) January 21, 2025
There was time for Monaco to waste a golden opportunity when Al-Kayush was unable to block his shot after finding plenty of space from close range.
Villa started the second half well with Watkins running down the left before finding Morgan Rogers, who was unable to bend his effort inside the post with the outside of his boot.
Al-Kayyoush then thought he had made it 2-0 after scoring from close range but the 22-year-old took off too early and was flagged for offside.
Emery brought on John Doran to play alongside Watkins to try and inspire Villa but that proved to be misplaced, with chances few and far between in the final half-hour of the encounter.
Matty Cash was passed through on goal by Rogers but the right-back could only manage to tip his shot wide.
