Aston Villa will aim to maintain their perfect start in the Champions League group stage when they face Club Brugge in Belgium on Wednesday evening. Unai Emery’s side, fresh off a strong performance in their first three matches of the competition, will look to make it four consecutive wins as they take on the Belgian outfit at the Jan Breydel Stadium (5:45 pm kick-off).
Having secured victories against BSC Young Boys, Bayern Munich, and Bologna, Villa currently sit at the top of their Champions League group, boasting a flawless record so far. Only Liverpool has matched Villa’s perfect start, winning all three of their fixtures in the group phase. However, Villa enters this match following two consecutive defeats. The first came in the Carabao Cup against Crystal Palace, and the second was a disappointing 4-1 loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. Spurs dominated the second half, overturning a 1-0 deficit to seal a comprehensive victory, leaving Villa with a bitter taste heading into their next challenge.
Wednesday’s clash with Club Brugge provides Villa with an opportunity to return to winning ways before a tough Premier League fixture against early leaders Liverpool on Saturday. That match will be a key test for Villa as they aim to recover their form before the international break. Emery’s side will be keen to regain some momentum ahead of what promises to be a challenging stretch of matches.
Ahead of the Brugge match, Emery will address the media on Tuesday evening to provide updates on team news. One player who is expected to miss out is right-back Matty Cash, who picked up a calf injury in the loss to Spurs. Ross Barkley is also unavailable, having missed the last two matches due to injury, and is expected to remain sidelined until after the international break.
In terms of personnel, Emi Martinez will continue in goal, with a few changes likely to occur in defense due to the injuries. Ezri Konsa is expected to shift across to right-back to cover for Cash, while Ian Maatsen could be called up to start at left-back in place of Lucas Digne. Tyrone Mings, who made a successful return to action against Crystal Palace after a long injury layoff, could be given the nod to start in central defense, particularly given Villa’s strong start in Europe. Emery might choose to field Mings against Brugge rather than wait for the more daunting trip to Anfield, where Villa will face Liverpool in a high-profile league encounter.
Emery will also be keen to assess the partnership between left-footed center-backs Pau Torres and Mings. With the perfect start in the Champions League, the trip to Brugge may offer Emery the opportunity to experiment with this defensive pairing, ensuring that both players can function effectively together in Villa’s system.
Boubacar Kamara, who has been impressive since his return from an ACL injury, could be rested for this match, as playing two high-intensity games in close succession might be too much at this stage. This would likely see Belgian internationals Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans continue in the midfield double pivot, where they have formed a solid partnership.
On the attacking front, Leon Bailey will be eager to find his form after a slow start to the season. A goal in Brugge could provide a much-needed confidence boost for the Jamaican winger, who has been inconsistent so far this campaign. John McGinn, another player who has been a key figure for Villa, could start from the left to provide balance, with Maatsen pushing forward on the opposite flank. Jacob Ramsey, who was forced to come off with cramp against Tottenham, is expected to be fit for the match.
Morgan Rogers, who was substituted against Spurs despite wanting to continue, should be fine to start on Wednesday. The young forward will be hoping to make a strong impact in Europe, having shown promise in his appearances so far. Leading the attack could be Jhon Duran, who has been in good form in the Champions League, scoring in both the wins against Bologna and Bayern Munich. Duran also had a goal ruled out against Young Boys and will be looking to add to his tally in Belgium.
Overall, Emery will have plenty of options and tactical decisions to make ahead of this crucial fixture, with Villa’s flawless European record on the line. The match against Brugge presents an excellent opportunity for Villa to bounce back from their recent setbacks and continue their strong Champions League campaign.
Aston Villa Predicted XI: Martinez; Konsa, Mings, Torres, Maatsen; Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, McGinn, Rogers; Duran.