Aston Villa finally kick off their Champions League campaign on Tuesday as they face Swiss champions Young Boys at the Wankdorf Stadium.
Unai Emery takes his Aston Villa players to Switzerland full of confidence after three wins out of four in the Premier League and they will fancy their chances to start the Champions League campaign with a victory.
Villa will have to contend with an artificial playing surface against Young Boys but Emery will be keen for this not to be used as an excuse with three points needed.
Young Boys will be wary of the multitude of threats Villa possess, with the likes of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and in-form Jhon Duran all very capable of making an impact.
- READ MORE: Aston Villa predicted lineup and team news as Jhon Duran starts in Champions League vs Young Boys
However, the Swiss side have talents of their own, so here are the two players Emery’s side will need to be mindful of in Bern.
Aston Villa must be wary of former Steven Gerrard player Cedric Itten
It is only natural when assessing opponents that the first player you look for is the centre-forward.
Young Boys tend to play a 4-2-3-1 formation with a lone striker and this tends to either be Silvere Ganvoula or Cedric Itten.
Itten already has five goals and two assists this season and boasts a decent record at international level with five goals in 12 Switzerland appearances.
The striker signed for Young Boys from Rangers in 2022, where he was managed by former Villa boss Steven Gerrard at Ibrox.
- READ MORE: The expensive problem that Steven Gerrard caused for Unai Emery and Monchi at Aston Villa
Speaking about Itten in 2020, Gerrard said: “I think his (Itten) confidence is fine, I think he’s in a good place so unless you’ve noticed something I haven’t he’s been an absolute pleasure to work with, he works his socks off.
“I thought he earned the opportunity tonight and he’s took it with both hands. His performance epitomised what we were about as a team tonight which was aggressive and controlled out of possession, the amount of regains and the amount of running he did for the team was fantastic.”
Last season, Itten scored 13 goals and provided three assists in all competitions, so the 27-year-old will be a threat that Villa must combat.
Joël Monteiro could cause Aston Villa full-back’s problems
Lamare Bogarde and Lucas Digne have been Emery’s chosen full-backs in the past two games but whoever is favoured against Young Boys could have their work cut out.
That is because Young Boys’ most dangerous player is arguably winger Joël Monteiro, with his ability to play on either flank making the 25-year-old really difficult to defend against.
Monteiro already has two goals and seven assists in ten games this season, with both his goals coming in the 3-2 Champions League qualifying win over Galatasary.
Last season the one-cap Swiss international scored 12 goals and provided three assists, so watch out for his mazy runs and cultured right foot.
