Aston Villa aim to secure their fourth consecutive Champions League victory as they travel to Belgium to face Club Brugge on Wednesday evening. Unai Emery's side have set an impressive pace in the revamped league phase, boasting a perfect three wins from three. Villa opened their campaign by beating Young Boys, followed by an emphatic win over Bayern Munich, and most recently, a controlled 2-0 victory over Bologna on matchday three at Villa Park. However, they arrive in Belgium looking to bounce back after a punishing 4-1 defeat to Tottenham in the Premier League, their first league loss since August.
Club Brugge, meanwhile, come into this clash with mixed European form. Following a narrow win over Sturm Graz, they suffered defeats to Borussia Dortmund and AC Milan, the latter a tough outing at the San Siro. On the domestic stage, Nicky Hayen's side are riding a three-game winning streak, though they still trail Belgian Pro League leaders Genk by seven points.
Club Brugge and Aston Villa are set to face off for the first time ever on Wednesday evening. The Belgian champions' most recent encounter with English opposition in the Champions League came three years ago when they suffered heavy defeats both home and away against a formidable Manchester City side. According to VAVEL.com, recent injury returnee Gustaf Nilsson, who scored minutes after coming on last match, missed the weekend's win and remains a doubt. Raphael Onyedika is suspended following a red card at San Siro, potentially opening up a starting role for Hugo Vetlesen. Up front, either Romeo Vermant or Ferran Jutgla is set to lead the line, with captain Hans Vanaken in midfield and veteran Simon Mignolet in goal.
Unai Emery faces a welcome selection dilemma up front as Aston Villa's top Premier League scorer Ollie Watkins, with five goals, holds a narrow lead over Jhon Duran, who has netted four from the bench. The Colombian international Duran also scored the decisive goal against Bayern, started in the victory over Bologna, and has amassed eight goals across all competitions. The Villans are close to full strength, with only Ross Barkley sidelined after missing the Spurs match. With Boubacar Kamara easing back into form following a knee injury, former Anderlecht duo Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana are expected to command the midfield in Bruges.
The match will be played at Jan Breydelstadion in Belgium, with kick-off set for 17:45 BST on Wednesday, 6th November 2024. Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on TNT Sports 2 / discovery+.
Key players to watch include Hans Vanaken for Club Brugge, who is set to make his 468th appearance, highlighting his influence and consistency at the heart of the team. He has scored 12 goals in European competition and his presence will be critical against Villa's strong midfield. For Aston Villa, Ollie Watkins is the player to watch; having scored five goals and provided three assists this season, he will be looking to add to his impressive tally in this challenging away fixture.