Monaco vs Villarreal: Preview and Prediction

Monaco vs Villarreal
2016/17 Champions League Play-off.
Date: Tuesday, 23 August 2016,
Kick-Off: 19:45 UK,
Venue: Stade Louis II (Monaco).

Monaco hold a well earned away win as they welcome Villarreal for the second leg of the Champions League play-off on Tuesday.

The travelling Monaco fans made their voice heard at the El Madrigal last Wednesday as Fabinho send their team ahead with through a penalty in the third minute. Villarreal levelled the scores in the 36th minute after the new signing Alexandre Pato finished a fine chance created by fellow new arrival Rafael Borre. In a cagey second half Bernardo Silva found a vital goal for Monaco despite being the second best team throughout the period.

Monaco: Team News

Falcao, Morgan De Sanctis, Kylian Mbappe-Lottin, Almamy Toure, Vagner Love, Djibril Sidibe and Guido Carrillo are all injured and will miss the crucial Champions League tie against Villarreal.

Leonardo Jardim is also sweating on the fitness of Joao Moutinho, who started his first game of the season in the 1-0 away win at Nantes on Saturday.

While wing back Benjamin Mendy is suspended following his red card in the 86th minute of the first leg clash at Villarreal.

Monaco: Predicted Line-up (4-4-2)

Subasic – Tisserand, Jamerson, Glik, Raggi – Lemar, Fabinho, Bakayoko, Dirar – Germain, Cavaleiro.

Villarreal: Team News

Fran Escriba has a crisis in the attacking department. Both key strikers Cedric Bakambu and Roberto Soldado are out with injury. While Jonathan dos Santos and Denis Cheryshev, who could add pace on the wings are also sidelined.

In defense Daniel Bonera will miss out with injury, while the versatile winger Jaume Costa is a minor doubt.

Villarreal: Predicted Starting Line-up (4-4-2)

Asenjo – Costa, Musacchio, Ruiz, Mario – Castillejo, Bruno, Trigueros, Soriano – Pato, Borre.

Monaco vs Villarreal: Head-to-Head Stats

The second leg clash will the second time these two sides are meeting in a competitive fixture.

Monaco have plenty of experience playing against Spanish sides. Their overall record in 19 matches read 7 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses. However their home record against teams from Spain is strong as they won 5 and lost just 1 in 9 fixtures.

Villarreal have played against French sides on 5 occasions and lost only once, while they won and drawn 2 each. Their record in France from 2 visits is 1 win and 1 draw, while the win is from a forfeited fixture against Troyes AC on 2002.

Monaco vs Villarreal: Prediction

Villarreal are coming on the back of a poor pre-season which they finished with three consecutive defeats. They were held to a 1-1 draw by Granada in the opening match of the new Spanish La Liga season, which put their streak at 6 matches without a win across all formats. They will be on low confidence and morale which may work against them going home to a strong Monaco side.

Monaco will fancy this against a Villarreal side who are in all sorts of trouble at the moment. Moreover they are a strong side at home and this was evident in the way they overturned a 2-1 defeat against Fenerbahce with a 3-1 home win in the last round of the qualifier.They are already leading here and just need a draw to confirm the Champions League group stage berth. So we can expect them to remain unbeaten here.

Monaco vs Villarreal: Tips

Double Chance – Monaco/Draw at 1.30.
Over 0.5 goals in First Half at 1.40.