And that is exactly what Unai Emery has just done. Jacob Ramsey and Lamare Bogarde on for Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia.

Ademola Lookman rises highest to head home from Charles De Ketelaere's cross. Juan Cuadrado played a brilliant backheel into his path before the cross.

The substitute has looked so lively since coming on at half-time and he fully deserves his goal.

Aston Villa were looking at bypassing the play-off round and jumping straight into the last 16 but if they lost this they would likely to be out of the top eight by close of play tomorrow.

That would then add even more spice to Villa's last game in the group phase, with Celtic coming to Villa Park in what promises to be an all-British thriller on 29 January.

Five minutes left of this one.

The Villa wall does its job, stopping the free-kick from getting through to Emiliano Martinez.

Matty Cash gets a yellow for shoving substitute Lucas Michal to the ground. Free-kick to Monaco right on the edge of the box.

Matty Cash with a bright run up from right back but once again Wifried Singo is the man in the way, sending a clearance behind for a corner.

Ian Maatsen takes it, but decisive goalkeeping from Radoslaw Majecki as he comes to gather the delivery.

Image source, Reuters

Davide Zappacosta thinks he has scored Atalanta's fourth goal but is denied by the offside flag.

The home side are firmly in control and looking to increase their lead even further.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer in Paris

Manchester City have endured a torrid time by their own sky-high standards this season but the 6-0 win at Ipswich Town on Sunday was a lot more like it, a result that was reflected in the mood of the camp here in Paris.

Manager Pep Guardiola was particularly buoyed by the return to form of Phil Foden, while striker Erling Haaland was in exuberant form as he field questions ranging from his new nine-and-a-year contract and the club's financial future, to revealing he has been measuring his sleep patters to ensure he is in peak condition.

Guardiola said: "Step by step we are getting back. We try to be there. With Phil Foden, we let him know how much we love him regardless of performance."

He added: "There is still room for improvement. Still room for improvement. Life is not always perfect. What defines us is how we react."

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

Villa are pouring so many players forward that they are getting caught out with the pace of Monaco in behind.

Image source, EPA

Villa are pushing for an equaliser but leaving spaces at the back. Monaco substitute Aleksandr Golovin shoots left footed after a quick attack, but Tyrone Mings does well, flinging himself in front of the ball to divert it wide for a corner.

Don't think anyone can criticise any decision made by Slot so far this season. Top of the Premier League, top of the Champions League. Keep the faith.

Monaco's Wilfried Singo looks a top quality centre-half. He's the matchwinner at the moment and does well to go stride for stride with Jhon Duran, never an easy task, before producing a brilliantly-timed sliding challenge in the penalty area with no room for error.

A chance for Matty Cash. Morgan Rogers slides it down the right side of the penalty area, Cash spins and shoots in one motion but drags it across the face of goal and wide. Twenty minutes for Villa to get something. They deserve something.

Ian Maatsen, who played in the Champions League final for Borussia Dortmund last season, comes on to replace Lucas Digne at left-back for Aston Villa.

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

What a chance. Between now and the end of the game you are going to get that: breakaway chances.

It's who is going to finish them.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino is through 30 yards out for Monaco, but he doesn't the pace, legs or conviction to go on his own, he tries to cut inside Ezri Konsa, who does well to snuff out the danger.

Image source, Reuters

Pat Nevin
Former Chelsea winger on BBC Radio 5 Live

You can see time and time again Aston Villa nearly win the ball back. There are breaks on and they have some players who are desperate to get into the penalty area in Duran and Watkins.

Image source, Reuters