Champions League
Conference League
Premier League
Published on Oct, 02 2024
Back in 1982, Aston Villa vs. Bayern Munich was the European Cup final which the Villans won 1-0 in Rotterdam. Fast-forward 42 years and the German juggernaut will take on the Birmingham outfit again at Villa Park on Wednesday in the UEFA Champions League. The English side are back at Europe's top table for the first time since 1983 and the Bavarians will see what it means to the club's fans that Uni Emery and his players have ended that long wait.
A 2-2 draw away at Ipswich Town over the weekend places Villa fifth in the Premier League table when second was within reach. However, the club's incredible rebirth under Emery continues and six home wins in the UEFA Conference League last year led to a semifinal berth as part of a first continental outing in 13 years. The Spaniard has a reputation as a European expert with Bayern having experienced that twice with just three of 20 UCL group games lost -- one of those against Bayern with Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
Kompany's men lost their 100% record over the weekend with a 1-1 draw against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern are unbeaten in 41 group stage games with 37 wins since September 2017 with 12 quarterfinals from 13 appearances in the knockout rounds. A win at Villa Park as part of a pathway to a top-eight finish will be part of Kompany's plan in this new-look League Phase.
Both Villa and Bayern enjoyed big wins in the opening round of games with the Villans scoring three times in Switzerland away at Young boys while the Bavarians thumped Dinamo Zagreb 9-2 in Munich. Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana all scored for Emery's side who could now become the first Premier League side to win their two opening games in the UCL since Leicester City in 2016. Kompany's side kicked off their new campaign with a record home victory -- Die Roten are the only team to score nine in a single Champions League game. Harry Kane scored four as part of a 30-goal tally from their first seven games.
Villa: Emery is without captain John McGinn, Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara for this one. Leon Bailey is back involved while Jhon Duran and Ollie have four goals apiece. Morgan Rogers got his first Premier League goal of the season over the weekend and created four opportunities from open play against Young Boys -- the most by an English player on their debut since Danny Welbeck in 2009.
Possible Villa XI: Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins.
Bayern: Michael Olise has five goals from his last four Bayern games while Kane's recent effort against Werder Bremen was his 41st Bundesliga strike. After limping off late against Leverkusen, he is still expected to start here. Kane has been involved directly in seven goals from six games at Villa Park while Manuel Neuer should also start here. Sacha Boey, Josip Stanisic and Hiroki Ito are all unavailable though.
Possible Bayern XI: Neuer; Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Gnabry; Kane.
This is a good test for Bayern and a draw should not be ruled out but do not be surprised if the Germans find a way to edge past Villa by a solitary goal over the 90 minutes. Pick: Villa 1, Bayern 2.
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