A mouth-watering showdown is set to take centre stage at Villa Park on Wednesday night as Aston Villa host Bayern Munich.
It’s fitting that Aston Villa’s first home game back in the Champions League is against a Bayern Munich side they beat in the 1982 European Cup final.
Despite the inflated prices, tickets unsurprisingly sold like hotcakes for their encounter at home to Bayern, with Unai Emery’s men set to test themselves against one of the best teams on the planet.
The Villans have started this campaign in fine form, recording 13 points from a possible 18 in the league while securing a 3-0 victory over Young Boys last month.
The stage is now set for Villa to pull off a memorable result on Wednesday, although they will be without a couple of their first-team stars.
Aston Villa team news ahead of Bayern Munich
Villa will unfortunately be without captain John McGinn for their clash with Bayern. Emery confirmed that McGinn will be sidelined for another two to three weeks after picking up a hamstring injury against Wolves.
Emery could also be without first-choice right-back Matty Cash.
Cash sustained an injury in the defeat to Arsenal in August and was expected to return for the Champions League showdown however, no update has since been provided on the Poland international.
Villa fans, meanwhile, were pleased to see Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara return to full training, with the Aston Villa boss expecting the duo to be in contention for first-team minutes after the international break.
As for the visitors, the main concern Bayern have heading into their trip to Birmingham is the fitness of Harry Kane, who is a doubt after coming off late on against Bayer Leverkusen.
So, with that said, here’s how Villa could line up for their clash against the Bundesliga giants.
- READ MORE: Aston Villa expert names the one ‘crucial’ element that will fix Unai Emery’s defensive woes
Aston Villa predicted lineup vs Bayern Munich
Emi Martinez has been longing for occasions like this at Aston Villa, with the Argentine set to play a crucial role for his side underneath the lights.
Alan Smith lauded Martinez for a ‘world-class’ save he made against Ipswich Town and such heroics will need replicating tomorrow night.
There could be one change to the defence that drew at Portman Road, with £26m star Diego Carlos dropping out after his ‘really poor’ display.
Carlos could be replaced by youngster Lamare Bogarde, who was previously dubbed ‘class’ in pre-season, with the Dutchman set for a baptism of fire at home to Bayern.
Emery switching the Brazilian for Bogarde would allow Ezri Konsa to return to the centre of defence alongside Pau Torres with Lucas Digne continuing at left-back.
Villa’s midfield speaks for itself at the moment as Youri Tielemans partners Amadou Onana. Meanwhile, fresh from scoring his first goal of the season, Morgan Rogers continues in his attacking midfield role.
That leaves the same front three that started in East Anglia, including the dazzling Leon Bailey on the right, Jacob Ramsey on the left and Ollie Watkins leading the line.
Aston Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Pau, Digne; Tielemans, Onana; Bailey, Rogers, Ramsey; Watkins.
