Unai Emery’s decision to leave Jhon Duran out of Aston Villa’s starting XI for their crucial Champions League trip to Monaco might be one he comes to regret. Despite making three changes for the clash at Stade Louis-II on Tuesday (21 January), Duran’s omission could prove costly with automatic qualification to the round of 16 hanging in the balance.
Emery opted to bring Lucas Digne, Emi Buendia, and Leon Bailey into the lineup, while Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana, and Jacob Ramsey dropped to the bench. However, the decision to bench Duran, who has been an impactful presence in recent games, raises questions about Villa’s attacking edge.
Defensive Core Unchanged
Despite the changes, the backbone of Villa’s defense remains largely intact from their 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Saturday (18 January). Emi Martinez retains his spot in goal after making four crucial saves in North London, with Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa, and Matty Cash also staying in the lineup. Cash, in particular, has been impressive, registering an assist and boasting a 100% cross accuracy against the Gunners.
Lucas Digne replaces Ian Maatsen at left-back after Maatsen struggled defensively against Arsenal, failing to win a single tackle before being substituted at halftime. In midfield, Youri Tielemans continues alongside Boubacar Kamara, who dominated the duels in his previous outing, winning seven battles against a strong Arsenal midfield.
Buendia and Bailey Add Attacking Options
Emi Buendia has been brought in to provide creativity as Onana misses out due to injury, while Leon Bailey replaces Jacob Ramsey. Ramsey’s recent form has been underwhelming, with no completed dribbles or created chances in the previous match.
Watkins Retains His Spot
Upfront, Ollie Watkins leads the line after scoring and winning five duels against Arsenal. However, the choice to bench Jhon Duran—despite his aerial dominance off the bench and consistent impact—raises eyebrows. Duran’s last start came nearly a month ago, and his ability to win aerial duels and provide physicality might have offered Villa a critical edge against Monaco.
Time will tell if Emery’s bold decision pays off or if Duran’s absence will be a missed opportunity.