Ligue 1 teams competing in the Champions League on Tuesday night experienced contrasting fortunes in the penultimate games of the group stages. Monaco ended their dismal run of form with a 1-0 win over Aston Villa while Liverpool beat Lille 2-1 to maintain their 100 percent record in the tournament.
Wilfried Singo scored Monaco’s winner early in the first-half to take the side to 10th in the 36-team division with 13 points from their seven games.
After hosting Rennes on Saturday in Ligue 1, Monaco play Inter Milan next Tuesday at the San Siro in the final tie of the group stages.
“I’m really happy about this victory,” said Monaco boss Adi Hütter whose side had not won a game since beating fifth division Union St Jean in the last-64 of the Coupe de France on 22 December.
“We were in a difficult situation but I have to say compliments to the team. They fought from beginning to the end against a top team from the Premier League. I hope it helps to give them their confidence back.”
Monaco were playing their fourth game in a punishing January schedule.
They started their travails on 10 January with a 2-2 draw at Nantes in Ligue 1. They lost their last-32 Coupe de France tie against Reims four days later.
And they went down 2-1 to Montpellier in Ligue 1 on 17 January.
Monaco host Rennes in Ligue 1 on 25 January before travelling to Italy to face Inter Milan at the San Siro on 29 January in their final game in the group stages.
Lille began the penultimate round of matches in the 36-team division in eighth place – the final berth for automatic qualification to the last-16 knockout stages.
But they dropped into one of the 16 slots for a play-off place in the last-16 following the setback at Anfield. Mo Salah gave Liverpool the lead in the 34th minute.
On the hour mark, Jonathan David levelled for the visitors who had just been reduced to 10 men after the dismissal of Aissa Mandi for two bookable offences.
But parity lasted only briefly. In the 67th minute, Harvey Elliot restored Liverpool’s advantage and the Merseysiders held on to register their seventh successive win and qualification to the knockout stages.
On Wednesday night, two more Ligue 1 sides feature in European club football’s most prestigious competition. Brest, who are playing in the Champions League for the first time, continue their campaign at Shakhtar Donetsk.
Brest boast 13 points from their six games and go into their seventh match in a far healthier state than Ligue 1 pacesetters Paris Saint-Germain who entertain Manchester City at the Parc des Princes.
PSG, lie 25th with in the division with only seven points from their six games. They have no chance of surging into the top eight places and they are in danger of failing to occupy one of the 16 play-off spots.
Manchester City also languish in the table. They are 22nd with eight points and in need of points to progress.
“We know it will be difficult against Manchester City,” said PSG striker Ousmane Dembélé. “We know that it is a crucial game if we want to stay in the Champions League this season so we have to do everything to get the three points.”
The game will pit the PSG coach Luis Enrique against his former Barcelona teammate Pep Guardiola. “It will be a pleasure to see Pep again,” said Enrique.
“I don’t think anyone would have predicted that either Manchester City or PSG would be in this situation. But here we are.
“This is the reality of the new format of the Champions League. Both teams will deploy their best weapons to get the three points.”