Key events
Barney Ronay
“One more match. Just one more match.” Sure, Unai. Sure. Just like all the other matches that generated a local tremor measured at 1 on the Richter scale when that seventh and final goal went in at the Camp Nou in March 2017.
“It was inevitable that Unai Emery would be asked about the Remontada game on the eve of Aston Villa’s Champions League engagement with Barcelona, his own first trip back to the Camp Nou in this competition since one of the most visceral and traumatic experiences of his managerial career.
“Emery was Paris Saint-Germain’s manager the night the Neymar-Messi-Suárez triple-godhead reversed a 4-0 first-leg quarter-final deficit in this stadium.
Speaking of Barcelona and subtext:
“Plays, novels, songs. They all have a subtext. Which I take to mean a hidden message or import of some kind. So subtext, we know. But what do you call the message or meaning that’s right there on the surface? Completely open and obvious. They never talk about that. What do you call … what’s above the subtext?”
“The text.”
Preamble
Aston Villa are three from three in the Champions League. Unai Emery’s side could top the league phase table outright after this evening’s meeting with Barcelona. But that is only part of the story.
Emery returns to the Camp Nou – scene of one of his most traumatic nights as a manager – when in 2017 Barcelona overturned a 4-0 first-leg defeat by Paris Saint-Germain, winning 6-1 on the night, 6-5 on aggregate.
So there would be subtext aplenty without the recent furore surrounding the pundit Jamie Carragher, Villa’s threatened legal action, Carragher’s apology, Villa dropping their legal threat … not to mention the fact that Emery has been linked with the Old Trafford managerial poisoned chalice hotseat amid Michael Carrick’s ongoing struggles.
Throw in a disappointing week on the pitch for the Villains – an emphatic Carabao Cup by Bournemouth and a 1-1 draw with Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday – and it’s going to be fascinating to witness what transpires on the hallowed Camp Nou turf. Dani Olmo, Andreas Christensen, Eric García and Xavi Espart are expected to miss out for La Liga-leading Barça, while the forward Nicolas Jackson should be ready to go for Villa.
Emery knows a thing or two about competing in European knockout competitions so regardless of subtexts and subplots, this should be a cracking game of association football. Vamos!
Kick-off: 8pm GMT
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