Aston Villa head to Belgium to take on Club Brugge in the Champions League on MD4, and we’ve got the latest in regards to team news and confirmed lineups, as well as a prediction alongside our match preview.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa Preview
Unai Emery and his Aston Villa side go head-to-head with Belgian Pro League champions Club Brugge in the Champions League on Wednesday, looking to maintain their perfect start to the league phase.
The Villans head into MD4 at the summit of the table as one of just two sides to win each of their opening three matches in the competition, the other being fellow Premier League side Liverpool.
Wins over Young Boys, Bayern Munich and Bologna have put the West Midlands outfit in good stead for knockout round qualification, however they come into this one without a win in each of their last three matches.
Since the Bologna win, they have drawn with Bournemouth, lost to Crystal Palace and, most recently, were battered 4-1 away at Tottenham on Sunday, as they now sit in sixth in the English top-flight table.
#UCL vibes 😁 pic.twitter.com/Hn5PqdJ7tm
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 5, 2024
Their Belgian counterparts, meanwhile, are in 26th in the Champions League table and currently sit outside the play-off positions, having won one and lost two in the competition thus far.
Managed by Nicky Hayen, formerly of Cymru Premier side Haverfordwest County, Blauw-Zwart have won three in succession since their loss to AC Milan on MD3, and they are currently second in the Belgian top-flight table.
Club Brugge Team News
Raphael Onyedinka was shown a red card in the defeat to Milan at the San Siro last time out, therefore he’s ruled out for this one through suspension, while Gustaf Nilsson is a doubt after missing the 1-0 win over OH Leuven on Saturday.
Some notable names that should be in from the off meanwhile are Simon Mignolet, formerly of Liverpool, and Hans Vanaken, who boasts five senior international goals and 23 caps for Belgium.
Aston Villa Team News
As for Villa, they have recently welcomed back long-term injury duo Tyrone Mings and Boubacar Kamara, and both have been named in the starting XI out in Bruges.
The only confirmed injury absentee for Emery’s side is Ross Barkley, with the former England international ruled out until after the international window, and Matty Cash is a doubt after picking up a calf issue at the weekend.
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa Confirmed Lineups
Club Brugge Lineup:
Mignolet; Seys, Ordonez, Mechele, De Cuyper; Jashari, Nielsen; Skov Olsen, Vanaken, Tzolis; Jutgla
Aston Villa Lineup:
Martinez; Konsa, Carlos, Mings, Maatsen; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Bailey; Watkins
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa Prediction
Like the UK’s best football betting sites, we at SportsCasting are favouring Villa to come out on top and to maintain their perfect record in the Champions League at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday.
A victory would put the Villans within touching distance of the knockout stages, likely needing just three or four more points from their remaining four fixtures, so they will surely be right up for this one.
As well, Emery will be looking for a bounce-back performance from his side after their heavy defeat at the weekend, and we’re backing them to do exactly that, against a side that have lost two of their opening three league phase games.
Prediction: Club Brugge 0-2 Aston Villa
