Aston Villa vs Juventus LIVE: Champions League newest rating and objective updates
Aston Villa face Juventus in the Champions League hoping to enjoy another memorable night on the club’s return to Europe despite their recent form.
Unai Emery’s made a flying start to their Champions League campaign with wins over Young Boys, Bologna and a spectacular 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich at Villa Park. In Italian giants Juventus, Villa will be hoping to claim another scalp against a famous European name.
But first Villa must end a six-game winless run in all competitions, which includes the 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge in the Champions League last time out. Emery said Juventus, who are sixth in Serie A under Thiago Motta, were favourites ahead of the game.
“To watch them at Villa Park in a match we have tomorrow is fantastic. And we want to compete,” he said. “Juventus is the favourite, they have more experiences, they are a very good team, they have very good players and they are the favourite to be in the top eight.”
Follow live updates from Aston Villa vs Juventus in the Champions League, below
Emery pre-match thoughts
“We always say in football it’s very difficult, whether we play in our league or in Europe, we’ve had to learn to adapt to different competitions,” Emery told TNT Sports ahead of kick-off.
“Our challenge is to improve, to get better, to play in Europe and be competitive. Our challenge is to always try to play with personality and dominate the match.”
Another famous European night on the cards?
Aston Villa have already inflicted one famous upset on a European titan – will Juventus experience a similar fate?
Juventus lacking in options
Thiago Motta’s selection choices have been heavily depleted by injuries, something that’s reflected by Juventus’ very light substitutes bench this evening.
Only six players – two of which are goalkeepers – line the Old Lady’s bench at Villa Park. That’s almost half of the reinforcements Villa have brought.
No reunion for Douglas Luiz
There will be no Aston Villa reunion for Douglas Luiz tonight, with the Brazilian missing out through injury.
The midfielder, who spent five seasons at Villa Park, has endured a difficult start to life at Juventus – and Villa president of football operations Monchi has admitted he would jump at the chance to re-sign his former man.
“He’s playing less than we all expected, but we’re talking about a strong player,” Monchi said.
“There are guys who arrive and impose themselves, others who need time. Patience is needed, but Douglas’ qualities are beyond discussion. He will become important for Juve.
“After his farewell, we invested and in midfield we are well placed with Tielemans, Onana, Kamara, Barkley… but I would always take Douglas back, from any club: he is very strong.”
Last time out
After enjoying a perfect start to their Champions League campaign, Aston Villa slumped to their first defeat last time out, with a bizarre penalty incident costing dearly in a 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge.
Nevertheless, Unai Emery’s side have been one of the stronger performing sides in European competition so far and will hope to propel themselves back up the table with a win over Italian giants Juventus this evening.
Juventus are two without a win in the Champions League, with Dusan Vlahovic’s penalty salvaging a point on their travels to Lille earlier this month. They sit 16th in the league table going into tonight’s contest.
Juventus team news
Just the one change for the visitors from the team that drew 0-0 with AC Milan at the weekend.
It’s an all-American switch as Timothy Weah comes in for international teammate Weston McKennie, who was left out of the squad.
As was already known, there will be no Villa reunion for Douglas Luiz, who has missed Juventus’ past five Serie A games through injury and has not recovered in time to face his former side.
Starting XI: Di Gregorio, Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz, Weah.
Subs: Fagioli, Mbangula, Perin, Pinsoglio, Rouhi, Danilo.
Aston Villa team news
Three changes for Aston Villa from the side that drew 2-2 to Crystal Palace last weekend.
Emery welcomes the returns of Boubacar Kamara, Matty Cash and Lucas Digne to the starting XI, with Ross Barkley among those dropping to the bench.
John Duran, Villa’s hero against Bayern Munich earlier this season, starts amongst the substitutes.
Starting XI: Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne, McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Gauci, Nedeljkovic, Bogarde, Maatsen, Konsa, Mings, Barkley, Buendia, Philogene, Duran.
