Key events
Preamble
The Champions League’s back, baby! A lot has changed since Paris Saint-Germain retained the giant trophy in May – not least at Villa Park. Aston Villa covered themselves in glory at the end of lsat season, qualifying for the Champions League on two fronts, but six of the XI that started their Europa League final victory over Freiburg have been pinched by other clubs.
No team can be de-spined without suffering the consequences, and Villa have had a tough start to the Premier League season: three games, one point, no goals. You’d expect Unai Emery to navigate the necessary transition, and we shouldn’t forget that Villa had an equally poor start last season. But for now the mood around the club might reasonably described as sub-optimal.
Villa start their Champions League in feckin Bruges, where they face the Belgian runners-up Club Brugge. Do they have to win? Of course they don’t haveta! But a victory – even a goal – would make everyone at Villa feel a bit better.
Kick off 5.45pm.
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