UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Singo gives Monaco 1-0 win over Villa; Atalanta routs Sturm Graz

UEFA Champions League 2024-25: Singo gives Monaco 1-0 win over Villa; Atalanta routs Sturm Graz

AS Monaco edged out Aston Villa 1-0 at home in the Champions League on Tuesday with an early goal from Wilfried Singo as the Ligue 1 side secured its first victory of the year.

Monaco snapped a four-game winless run in all competitions and is amongst the seeded playoff spots in the 36-team Champions League table with 13 points.

Villa, unbeaten in its last five matches across all competitions, also has 13 points with a top-eight finish now in jeopardy.

Monaco took the lead after eight minutes as Singo headed in from close range after goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez made a fine save to keep out Thilo Kehrer’s initial header from a corner.

The visitors withstood Monaco’s pressure and enjoyed more possession before the break but Monaco keeper Radoslaw Majecki kept out efforts from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins.

The start of the second half saw chances for both sides, with Villa’s Morgan Rogers firing just wide and Monaco’s Maghnes Akliouche having an effort ruled out for offside.

Villa manager Unai Emery sought to spark some life into his attack with the introduction of Jhon Duran but they could not breach a solid Monaco backline as Matty Cash pulled a shot wide.

Europa League winner Atalanta thrashed Austrian outfit Sturm Graz 5-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday with Gian Piero Gasperini’s side well placed to earn a spot in the competition’s top eight.

Atalanta put in a compelling performance, dominating from start to finish as it earned its first home win of their European campaign.

The Italians moved provisionally up to third spot with 14 points before the start of Tuesday’s later games. Sturm, which is 31st with three points, has no chance of securing a place in the knockout phase playoffs.

Striker Mateo Retegui gave Atalanta an early lead from close range, profiting from a defensive mishap from the visitors, and the game remained 1-0 at the break.

Mario Pasalic doubled the advantage in the 58th minute, before Charles De Ketelaere bundled the ball in to make it 3-0 five minutes later and then set up Ademola Lookman for their fourth goal in the 90th minute.

Substitute Marco Brescianini sealed the rout in stoppage time.