Aston Villa seek fourth win at Barcelona in Champions League

Summarised from 3 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 13:30 · Archive

Aston Villa travel to Barcelona on Tuesday night seeking to extend their perfect Champions League record to four wins.

Aston Villa travel to Barcelona on Tuesday night for a Champions League match at the Camp Nou. Unai Emery's side have won each of their opening three league phase matches against Viking, Fenerbahce and Club Brugge, making them one of only five teams to begin with a perfect record.

Villa come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Fulham at the weekend, in which Zion Suzuki gifted the visitors an own goal after Nicolas Jackson had opened the scoring. The club was also eliminated from the Carabao Cup by Bournemouth. For Villa, long-term absentee Amadou Onana remains sidelined with a knee injury, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka has been ruled out for at least the Barcelona match with an issue sustained last month.

Barcelona have been in strong form in La Liga, sitting top after winning ten of their opening 11 games, and have scored 11 times in three Champions League matches. However, they face a significant injury crisis. Youngster Roony Bardghji sustained a cruciate ligament injury in August and is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign. Attacking midfielder Dani Olmo is expected to be sidelined for around a month with an adductor injury. Barcelona boss Hansi Flick has been forced to deploy midfielder Frenkie De Jong at centre-back, having done so in the weekend's 6-1 win against Alaves.

In defence, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Eric Garcia and Xavi Espart are all injured. Barcelona may field youngster Brian Fariñas at right-back despite being a conventional midfielder, with left-back duties likely going to ex-Manchester City player Joao Cancelo. De Jong is expected to start at centre-back alongside Pau Cubarsi, with Joan Garcia in goal and Rodri, Pedri and Fermin Lopez forming the midfield.

Emery is expected to have nearly all his squad available for the trip to Spain. Barcelona manager Flick has said his side will not take Villa lightly, describing them as 'fantastic'.

How it is being reported

• Hansi Flick gives Unai Emery ultimate compliment and names 'unbelievable' Aston Villa playerHansi Flick and Anthony Gordon both spoke of their admiration for Aston Villa ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League clash with BarcelonaBirminghamLive · 2 Nov, 13:28
• Hansi Flick says Barcelona won't take 'fantastic' Aston Villa lightlyUnai Emery’s Villa head to the Nou Camp on Tuesday night in the Champions League.Birmingham World · 2 Nov, 13:05
• Hansi Flick says Barcelona won't take 'fantastic' Aston Villa lightlyUnai Emery’s Villa head to the Nou Camp on Tuesday night in the Champions League.Express & Star · 2 Nov, 13:05
• Barcelona predicted XI vs Aston Villa as star-studded attack gives Unai Emery headacheAston Villa take on Barcelona in a Champions League glamour tie on Tuesday evening but the Spanish giants might be forced to take a creative approach with their team selectionBirminghamLive · 2 Nov, 11:38
• Nine players could miss Barcelona vs Aston Villa with Spanish giants in crisisAston Villa will be aiming to continue their perfect start to life in the Champions League this season as they travel to Spain for a showdown with reigning La Liga champions BarcelonaBirminghamLive · 2 Nov, 10:10
• Buendia starts, McGinn role - Aston Villa starting XI vs Barcelona predictedUnai Emery has a few selection dilemmas ahead of Aston Villa's Champions League clash with BarcelonaBirminghamLive · 2 Nov, 08:00

In this story: Aston Villa · Barcelona · Unai Emery · Hansi Flick · Camp Nou · Nicolas Jackson · Zion Suzuki · Frenkie De Jong

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