Aston Villa have confirmed their starting line-ups for their game against Bologna in the Champions League.
Villa host the Italian side just three weeks after their famous 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich at Villa Park, having also seen off Young Boys on Matchday 1.
Unai Emery’s men can strengthen their grip on a top-24 finish in the league phase with a victory, while their positive start may also see them fancy their chances of the top eight.
Read on to see the confirmed line-ups and team news for the Champions League encounter.
Aston Villa confirmed line-up
How we start against Bologna in the Champions League this evening 👊#UCL || #UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/ZJycB6xXY8
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) October 22, 2024
Emery has made four changes to the team who beat Fulham 3-1 on Saturday, with super sub Jhon Duran, the hero against Bayern, the headline inclusion in place of Ollie Watkins.
Captain John McGinn returns to starting XI after injury, with Ezri Konsa back in for Matty Cash and Ian Maatsen replacing Lucas Digne in the full-back positions.
Jacob Ramsey takes a place on a strong bench for the Villans which boasts the likes of Cash, Digne, Watkins, Ross Barkley, Emiliano Buendia and Jaden Philogene.
England defender Tyrone Mings is also on the bench after 14 months out with a serious knee injury, while Boubacar Kamara is also involved after making the bench against Fulham.
Aston Villa XI: Martínez, Konsa, Diego Carlos, Torres, Maatsen, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Bailey, Duran.
Subs: Olsen, Cash, Mings, Barkley, Buendia, Watkins, Digne, Philogene, Nedeljkovic, Bogarde, Ramsey, Kamara.
Bologna confirmed line-up
How we line up tonight 👊#UCL #WeAreOne pic.twitter.com/FPhnyv0TvZ
— Bologna FC 1909 (@BolognaFC1909en) October 22, 2024
The headline from Bologna’s camp is that Samuel Iling-Junior, currently on loan at the club from Villa, could make his Villa Park debut from the bench.
Former Nottingham Forest midfielder Remo Freuler has been named in the starting XI.
Bologna XI: Skorupski, Posch, Beukema, Lucumi, Lykogiannis, Freuler, Fabbian, Urbanski, Orsolini, Dallinga, Ndoye.
Subs: Bagnolini, Ravaglia, Holm, Moro, Castro, Iling-Junior, Casale, Corazza, Pobega, Odgaard, Miranda.
The Exciting Conclusion
As Aston Villa and Bologna prepare to face off in the Champions League, fans are buzzing with anticipation. It’s a clash of two teams with rich histories and passionate fan bases.
Will Aston Villa continue their winning streak and solidify their position in the league phase? Or will Bologna pull off an upset and make a statement on the European stage?
With star players on both sides and tactical minds at work, this promises to be a thrilling encounter for all football enthusiasts.
Stay tuned for all the action and drama as it unfolds on the pitch. And for more trending news articles like this, make sure to check out DeFi Daily News!
