Aston Villa's much-anticipated return to the Champions League is upon us as they gear up to face Swiss side Young Boys in Bern. This marks only the third time the Birmingham-based club has graced Europe's premier competition, and they are riding high on confidence after a strong start to their Premier League campaign.
Contrasting fortunes
Unai Emery's Aston Villa have made a flying start in the Premier League, securing three wins in their first four matches. Their latest victory was a thrilling 3-2 comeback against Everton, with Ollie Watkins scoring twice and Jhon Duran delivering a spectacular winner off the bench.
In stark contrast, Young Boys find themselves struggling at the bottom of the Swiss Super League table, having failed to secure a win in their opening fixtures. Despite earning their Champions League spot by defeating Galatasaray in the playoffs, Patrick Rahmen's team is yet to find their rhythm this season.
Aston Villa's european heritage
This fixture is steeped in history for Aston Villa, marking their first Champions League appearance since the 1982-83 season when they reached the quarter-finals. Their European legacy is further highlighted by their 1982 European Cup triumph over Bayern Munich with a 1-0 victory.
While Young Boys have been more frequent participants in recent years, appearing in the group stage four times over the last six years, their record against English teams remains unimpressive, with only one win in 11 encounters.
Team news and key players
Aston Villa's preparations have been marred by injuries. Leon Bailey, Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings, and Boubacar Kamara are all sidelined, while Robin Olsen's participation is uncertain due to a head injury. Amadou Onana's status is also questionable after being substituted at halftime against Everton.
Despite these challenges, Villa will rely on Ollie Watkins to lead their attack. The prolific striker was a standout performer in last season's Europa Conference League with five goals and will be eager to make an impact on the Champions League stage. For Young Boys, Silvere Ganvoula has been a rare bright spot this season, scoring three of the team's seven league goals.
Predicted Lineups
The expected line-ups for both teams are as follows:
Young Boys (4-2-3-1): Keller, Blum, Zoukrou, Husic, Hadjam, Niasse, Lauper, Virginius, Ugrinic, Colley, Ganvoula.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins.
Score prediction
As Aston Villa make their long-awaited return to the Champions League at the Wankdorf Stadium, anticipation is building for an intriguing clash. Emery's squad will aim to carry their domestic success into Europe while Young Boys seek to rejuvenate their season with a positive result.
Given the contrasting fortunes of both teams and Villa's attacking capabilities, an exciting match is anticipated. A predicted scoreline of Young Boys 1-3 Aston Villa suggests that the visitors' superior form might prevail. However, Young Boys will be eager to defy expectations on home turf.
Kickoff is scheduled for 17:45 BST on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.