Aston Villa take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and Unai Emery has named his starting line-up for the encounter.
It’s a huge night at Villa Park as we host our first game on our return to Europe’s premier competition, and the opposition fittingly is the same side we beat in the 1982 European Cup Final in Rotterdam.
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As Emery stressed in his programme notes though, as wonderful an occasion as it is, this is not just a celebration for Villa, but hopefully the start of our journey to compete at the top level and establish ourselves against the best to write a new chapter in the club’s history.
The Villa boss confirmed in his pre-match press conference that John McGinn, Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara miss out due to injury, with the latter duo closing in on a return either at the weekend or perhaps after the international break.
Although that is a blow for us given their quality and influence, such is the strength in depth in this current squad, we still have a strong core available, but there was an intriguing wait to see if Emery opted to make any changes, either personnel wise or tactically.
As per the club’s post below, there is one Villa change from the weekend draw at Ipswich Town, with Jaden Philogene replacing Leon Bailey.
It’s a big call from Emery given Philogene’s inexperience, particularly at this level, but evidently the Villa boss believes he’s the better fit for the role on the right wing for this game and specific opposition, and so it’s hoped that he can have a positive influence on our play.
Elsewhere, it’s as we were with Emiliano Martinez between the posts, while Ezri Konsa continues at right-back and Diego Carlos, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne complete the backline.
Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana remain in place in the midfield pivot, while it’s Philogene, Morgan Rogers, Jacob Ramsey and Ollie Watkins who will lead our charge in attack.
There is a boost on the bench though as Matty Cash returns to the matchday squad, and so it’s hoped that we have the quality and tactical solutions for Emery to mastermind another positive result in Europe.
Your Aston Villa team for our Champions League clash at Villa Park 👊#AVLFCB || #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/2YpmEphMMB
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 2, 2024
