Aston Villa return to Champions League action on Wednesday night in a mouth-watering showdown against Juventus.
The Villans are currently on a six-match winless run in all competitions, the longest spell Unai Emery has gone in his managerial career without a victory.
On their last outing in the Champions League, Aston Villa were beaten 1-0 by Club Brugge, as Tyrone Mings’ bizarre handball helped hand the hosts all three points.
Emery’s men are currently in eighth position in the league table, two points and three places above Wednesday night’s opponents Juventus.
Villa are set for a reunion with midfielder Douglas Luiz, who they sold to Juve in the summer. However, as it stands, Luiz looks set to miss out on the clash through injury.
Juventus have endured somewhat of an injury crisis ahead of the match, with as many as eight players potentially missing out, including forward Dusan Vlahovic.
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Aston Villa team news ahead of Juventus
Following their disappointing 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, Emery luckily didn’t pick up any further injuries to his first-team stars.
Villa are still without four of their key players, including Amadou Onana, Jacob Ramsey, Boubacar Kamara and Ezri Konsa, who all missed Saturday’s match.
Konsa and Onana both picked up injuries on national duty, though the Spanish boss described them as ‘small’ and didn’t shut the door on them returning for the next match.
Ramsey and Kamara are both dealing with hamstring injuries suffered against Liverpool before the international break and could return to action next weekend.
Matty Cash, meanwhile, made his first appearance against the Eagles since recovering from injury and could now start in the Champions League.
Aston Villa’s predicted lineup vs Juventus
Goalkeeper Emi Martinez was described as ‘world-class‘ for his heroic saves in the draw against Crystal Palace, with the Argentine proving his worth once more.
Lamare Bogarde was hooked at half-time in that match, meaning he could now be replaced by Cash at right-back for the visit of Juve.
Cash should play alongside Pau Torres and Diego Carlos, with the ‘fantastic’ Lucas Digne – as dubbed by Steven Gerrard – also coming in at left-back for Ian Maatsen.
Digne has improved a lot in a Villa jersey and deserves to reclaim his starting place after being rested for most of the game on Saturday.
Aston Villa’s midfield lacked balance without Onana and Kamara last weekend but Ross Barkley and Youri Tielemans should still be deployed as a duo.
On the right flank, Leon Bailey will perhaps keep his place despite his poor form with Morgan Rogers continuing in attacking midfield and John McGinn on the left.
Emery could be tempted to deploy Jhon Duran, although it’s unlikely he’d drop Ollie Watkins, who created history for Villa last time out.
Aston Villa predicted XI vs Juventus: Martinez; Cash, Torres, Carlos, Digne; Tielemans, Barkley; Bailey, Rogers, McGinn; Watkins.
