Sport

Villa’s clash with Bayern will highlight how far they have come

Villa Park will host a Champions League match for the first time on Wednesday. Aston Villa might have won the European Cup in 1982, but continental football has completely changed since then. This week’s fixture against Bayern Munich will symbolise how far Villa have come in a short space of time as Unai Emery’s team seeks to establish itself at the elite level.

The 3-0 victory over Young Boys got Aston Villa’s Champions League campaign off to the best possible start two weeks ago, but the visit of Bayern Munich will make clear the standard Emery and his players have to perform at. If Villa want to make their mark in Europe, this is the sort of challenge Villa will face on a regular basis.

There’s no reason to believe Aston Villa can’t impose their own game on the German giants. Emery has put in place strong foundations during his time as manager at Villa Park with Diego Carlos and Pau Torres expected to start in central defence in front of Emi Martinez as one of the best shot-stoppers in the world. Bayern Munich will find it difficult to break Villa down.

Amadou Onana has given Aston Villa a different dimension since joining from Everton in the summer transfer window while Youri Tielemens is an experienced and accomplished pace-setter at the base of the midfield. With Bayern Munich’s midfield occasionally vulnerable to opponents of superior physicality, Villa could have the better of the Bundesliga side in the centre of the pitch. This is where the biggest battle of the match could be.

Morgan Rogers will be a creative spark for Aston Villa in between the lines. The 22-year-old scored his first Premier League goal of the season in Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town and has caught the eye with his recent performances for Villa. Wednesday’s match could be an opportunity for Rogers to announce himself on an even bigger stage.

Ollie Watkins has established himself as one of the most reliable goalscorers in the Premier League and will be desperate to score a Champions League goal for the first time against Bayern Munich and Harry Kane, the striker who starts ahead of him for the England national team. Watkins might feel he has a point to prove.

In the wide areas, Leon Bailey and Jacob Ramsey will give Aston Villa forward thrust which could be useful if Bayern Munich are able to peg back the hosts on Wednesday. Kompany wants his team to control possession, but Villa will still pose a threat on the counter attack and in quick transition moments.

Aston Villa face a fight to stay in the Champions League this season. Last season, Newcastle United demonstrated the demands of playing in European football’s top club competition by crashing out of the group stage of the Champions League and finishing outside the Premier League’s top four. Villa could suffer a similar fate.

A statement win over Bayern Munich, however, would show Aston Villa belongs in the Champions League. It would prove Emery’s team can stay at the top level of European club football and highlight how Villa can rise even higher under their current manager. Emery is, after all, a continental specialist having won the Europa League so many times.

If Aston Villa can overcome Bayern Munich, they would have good reason to fancy their chances against anyone in this season’s Champions League. Emery and his players have already shown they can compete against the best of the Premier League. Now, they have the opportunity to do the same in Europe.