Following a bruising early knockout in the Coupe de France at the hands of Reims, AS Monaco are turning their focus to a pivotal Champions League game against Aston Villa in Monaco next week. It has been a difficult start to the year for the Principality side, who have lost their grip on the top spot in Ligue 1 and suffered a defeat to rivals Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions final since 2025 began.
Champions League action will come to the Stade Louis II on Tuesday 21st January, when AS Monaco face off against Aston Villa. The two sides have experienced contrasting trajectories so far in the competition, and the stakes are particularly high for Monaco, who currently sit in 16th place with just 10 points. Aston Villa, meanwhile, are in fifth place with 13 points.
Monaco will enter the game after a challenging few weeks. The Principality team lost to Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions final on 5th January, followed by a lacklustre draw with Nantes on 10th January. They then suffered a disappointing elimination from the Coupe de France in the Round of 32 on 14th January, losing to Reims in a penalty shootout.
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The match, held at Stade Auguste-Delaune, ended 1-1 in regular time, with Mohammed Salisu’s 70th-minute equaliser cancelling out Cédric Kipré’s first-half goal for Reims. Unfortunately, Monaco missed three penalty attempts, leading to a 3-1 shootout loss.
Coach Adi Hütter reflected on the defeat in his post-match comments, saying, “We are obviously all very disappointed, as we wanted to qualify for the next round of this Coupe de France. Nevertheless, I would like to congratulate Stade de Reims, even though the frustration is immense this evening. We really came here to win, but that did not happen.”
Despite the setback, there is optimism surrounding Monaco’s chances against Aston Villa. The team has shown resilience at home, where their fans are expected to play a crucial role in creating a winning atmosphere. A victory would not only boost their Champions League campaign but also restore confidence after their recent setbacks.
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Photo source: AS Monaco FC
