Aston Villa vs Juventus LIVE: Champions League team news and line-ups as hosts target famous night
Aston Villa could take a big step towards a top-eight finish if they can pull off another memorable European result at Villa Park
Aston Villa face Juventus in the Champions League hoping to enjoy another memorable night on the club’s return to Europe despite their recent form.
Unai Emery’s made a flying start to their Champions League campaign with wins over Young Boys, Bologna and a spectacular 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich at Villa Park. In Italian giants Juventus, Villa will be hoping to claim another scalp against a famous European name.
But first Villa must end a six-game winless run in all competitions, which includes the 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge in the Champions League last time out. Emery said Juventus, who are sixth in Serie A under Thiago Motta, were favourites ahead of the game.
“To watch them at Villa Park in a match we have tomorrow is fantastic. And we want to compete,” he said. “Juventus is the favourite, they have more experiences, they are a very good team, they have very good players and they are the favourite to be in the top eight.”
Follow live updates from Aston Villa vs Juventus in the Champions League, below
No reunion for Douglas Luiz
There will be no Aston Villa reunion for Douglas Luiz tonight, with the Brazilian missing out through injury.
The midfielder, who spent five seasons at Villa Park, has endured a difficult start to life at Juventus - and Villa president of football operations Monchi has admitted he would jump at the chance to re-sign his former man.
“He’s playing less than we all expected, but we’re talking about a strong player,” Monchi said.
“There are guys who arrive and impose themselves, others who need time. Patience is needed, but Douglas’ qualities are beyond discussion. He will become important for Juve.
“After his farewell, we invested and in midfield we are well placed with Tielemans, Onana, Kamara, Barkley… but I would always take Douglas back, from any club: he is very strong.”
Last time out
After enjoying a perfect start to their Champions League campaign, Aston Villa slumped to their first defeat last time out, with a bizarre penalty incident costing dearly in a 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge.
Nevertheless, Unai Emery’s side have been one of the stronger performing sides in European competition so far and will hope to propel themselves back up the table with a win over Italian giants Juventus this evening.
Juventus are two without a win in the Champions League, with Dusan Vlahovic’s penalty salvaging a point on their travels to Lille earlier this month. They sit 16th in the league table going into tonight’s contest.
Juventus team news
Just the one change for the visitors from the team that drew 0-0 with AC Milan at the weekend.
It’s an all-American switch as Timothy Weah comes in for international teammate Weston McKennie, who was left out of the squad.
As was already known, there will be no Villa reunion for Douglas Luiz, who has missed Juventus’ past five Serie A games through injury and has not recovered in time to face his former side.
Starting XI: Di Gregorio, Savona, Kalulu, Gatti, Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram, Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz, Weah.
Subs: Fagioli, Mbangula, Perin, Pinsoglio, Rouhi, Danilo.
Aston Villa team news
Three changes for Aston Villa from the side that drew 2-2 to Crystal Palace last weekend.
Emery welcomes the returns of Boubacar Kamara, Matty Cash and Lucas Digne to the starting XI, with Ross Barkley among those dropping to the bench.
John Duran, Villa’s hero against Bayern Munich earlier this season, starts amongst the substitutes.
Starting XI: Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne, McGinn, Tielemans, Kamara, Bailey, Rogers, Watkins.
Subs: Olsen, Gauci, Nedeljkovic, Bogarde, Maatsen, Konsa, Mings, Barkley, Buendia, Philogene, Duran.
Juventus train ahead of Champions League match against Aston Villa
Thiago Motta outlines Juventus route to victory over Aston Villa
“Continuity of everything we have done so far. We played a good game against Milan,” Thiago Motta said. “Tomorrow we’ll play a team who are very dangerous on the counterattack.
“We have to be solid in defence and not leave space for their trequartistas. We have to be compact and defend well. We have to use the ball well when we have it.”
Aston Villa train ahead of Champions League match against Juventus
Unai Emery sends message to Aston Villa fans ahead of Champions League clash with Juventus
“We are really happy in the Champions League. We want to enjoy tomorrow with our supporters at Villa Park,” said Emery.
“Enjoy it. We want to enjoy competing and we want to enjoy winning. We are here in the Champions League trying to be consistent.
“Now is the moment we have to enjoy, we have to compete, we have to face tomorrow Juventus, we have to try to face them being competitive.”
Early team news: Juventus
For Juventus, Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal are two long-term absentees, with both having suffered ACL injuries. Ex-Villa midfielder Douglas Costa is likely to miss out due to a muscular problem, while key attacker Dusan Vlahovic sat out the draw with Milan, though the Old Lady harbour hopes that he’ll at least be fit enough to be part of the matchday squad.
Polish striker Arkadiusz Milik also sat out last weekend’s match, while American Weston McKennie is a doubt after coming off at the weekend, with Timothy Weah and Nicolas Fagioli in line to replace him.
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