Key events
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Unai Emery: “We are trying to manage different moments in different competitions, but the players [tonight] are available and ready. This competition is something special, and we have to separate it from the Premier League … playing away from home, trying to win and get another clean sheet – it’s a challenge for us tonight.”
“I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed Sporting’s thrashing of Manchester City last night and even more the excuses that have been trotted out about injuries,” writes Rick Harris. “The PL is by far the richest league on the planet and PL clubs have the financial clout to outbuy almost all other clubs, so no excuses for Villa tonight or Arsenal if they get gubbed.”
On the Club Brugge team sheet, the most familiar name to British readers is veteran keeper Simon Mignolet, formerly of Liverpool and Sunderland. They are missing some key players tonight – Raphael Onyedika is suspended, and fellow midfielder Hugo Vetlesen only on the bench as he recovers from injury.
Striker Gustaf Nilsson, signed from Union SG in the summer, is also out injured, leaving Hayen’s side without an attacking focal point. They have plenty of creative talent, though, in the likes of Andreas Skov Olsen, Spanish forward Ferran Jutglà and Greek winger Christos Tzolis, who scored a belter in the team’s away win over Sturm Graz.
Some pre-game reading, on more Fun and Games in South America:
Plenty o’ changes from Unai Emery after the 4-1 shoeing at Tottenham, with Diego Carlos, Tyrone Mings and Ian Maatsen coming into the back four. Kamara replaces Onana in midfield, with Leon Bailey replacing Jacob Ramsey further forward. Ollie Watkins keeps his place ahead of Jhon Durán, who may not be too thrilled about it.
Team news
Club Brugge (4-3-3): Mignolet; Seys, Ordoñez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Jashari, Nielsen, Vanaken (c); Skov Olsen, Tzolis, Jutgla.
Subs: Jackers, Romero, Vetlesen, Meijer, Vermant, Skoras, Siquet, Spileers, Sabbe, Talbi.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martínez; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn (c); Watkins.
Subs: Gauci, Olsen, Durán, Buendia, Digne, Torres, Philogene-Bidace, Nedeljkovic, Onana, Bogarde, Ramsey, Swinkels.
Referee: Tobias Stieler (Germany)
Preamble
Aston Villa’s Champions League run might be the feelgood story of the season so far – and we could all use a feelgood story right now, couldn’t we? In the Premier League, Villa have forced their way into an expanded “big eight” – and that’s also the very realistic target Unai Emery has set his players in Europe.
Victory in Belgium tonight would see Villa join Liverpool as the only teams with a 100% record from four games – and well on the way to securing a top-eight finish, and a golden ticket to the last 16. Emery’s side are yet to concede a goal in Europe this season, and will kick off against Club Brugge as warm favourites to make it four wins from four.
That said, the fixture list from here is tricky (Juventus and Celtic at home, Leipzig and Monaco away) and with the continental itinerary creating some domestic turbulence –and some big Premier League games to negotiate before the end of January – Emery will be very keen to get an extra three points on the board here.
Standing in their way are a team rediscovering their groove after struggling under Scott Parker and Ronny Deila, winning last season’s Belgian title and currently sitting second in the table. The new man in charge, Nicky Hayen, was manager of Haverfordwest County in early 2022, but is now building a reputation as a young coach to watch.
