Aston Villa return to Champions League action on Tuesday night as they host Bologna at Villa Park.
It’s been an excellent start to the season for Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s men have tasted one defeat in all competitions, which came in unfortunate circumstances against Arsenal in August.
Villa most recently came from behind to beat Fulham in the Premier League, moving them up to fourth position, level on points with the Gunners.
It’s a similar story in the Champions League, with the Villans brushing aside Young Boys in their first match before edging out Bayern Munich 1-0.
On Tuesday night, Villa will meet Bologna winger Samuel Iling-Junior for the first time since leaving the Birmingham outfit on loan in the summer.
- READ MORE: How Samuel Iling-Junior has faired for Bologna ahead of Aston Villa Champions League clash
Aston Villa team news vs Bologna
Emery has a near-fit enough squad to select from as he prepares to make changes to the side that brushed past Fulham on Saturday.
Boubacar Kamara was named on the team sheet at Craven Cottage, and although he wasn’t introduced from the bench, it remains to be seen whether the Frenchman gets minutes in the Champions League.
Villa winger Jaden Philogene was handed a red card against Fulham after coming off the bench. He’s now suspended for the next Premier League game at home to Bournemouth while his caution isn’t valid in Europe.
Philogene could be brought into the starting XI as a result, with backup goalkeeper Robin Olsen still nursing a head injury that has kept him out for a while.
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Bologna
Emi Martinez slammed a false claim on X after he saved a penalty against Fulham. It came at an important point in the match and stopping Andreas Pereira from 12 yards was the catalyst to clinch an away victory.
Ezri Konsa was left on the bench on Saturday after returning to the squad but the Englishman could be named in the starting XI against Bologna, replacing Diego Carlos in defence.
With a back four of Matty Cash, Konsa, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne, Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans should start ahead of them but it wouldn’t be a surprise if Ross Barkley was brought into the side.
As for the front line, captain John McGinn was left on the bench at the weekend however, the Scotsman could replace Jacob Ramsey on the left with Morgan Rogers continuing in his attacking midfield role.
Leon Bailey – who they signed for £30 million three years ago – has looked jaded recently and could be swapped out for Philogene on the right.
That leaves Ollie Watkins leading the line, who is looking to score his first Champions League goal.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Philogene, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins.
