Aston Villa will be aiming to boost their chances of a top-eight finish in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
Life has been difficult for Unai Emery in the Premier League, with his team stopping a four-game losing run during their 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace at the weekend.
Yes, on the one hand, it ended Aston Villa’s rut, but the defensive woes are still there, the team is conceding goals for fun and the forward line just isn’t being ruthless.
But it has been a different story in the Champions League because, bar Villa’s defeat to Club Brugge last time out, things have been far better in Europe’s elite competition.
As soon as the Champions League draw was made, three fixtures jumped off the page straight away.
Villa’s opening home game against Bayern Munich – which ended up in a win – their final group game against Scottish champions Celtic and also the showdown against Juventus.
Douglas Luiz will be hoping to return to Villa Park, but he is an injury doubt, as Thiago Motta’s Juventus might be without a few key players for their trip to England.
But for Emery, days before the game, he has been handed an injury boost because two players have returned to training.
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Boubacar Kamara and Ezri Konsa return to Aston Villa training
Boubacar Kamara, Diego Carlos, Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa form a defensive wall during the Premier League match between Everton FC...
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Villa’s defensive woes have been spoken about at length and they won’t improve without two of their most important players.
Ezri Konsa is Villa’s best defender, whilst Boubacar Kamara, prior to his season-ending injury in February of the previous campaign, is the best defensive-minded midfielder at the club.
The duo missed the Palace game, but have been spotted in training this week, as posted by Aston Villa Fan Channel host Luke Robinson on Twitter.
Aston Villa’s Champions League standings and upcoming fixtures
This is the business end of the Champions League group stage and at a time when the winter period is going to take a lot out of the players.
Four more matches remain – including the visit of Juventus – with a trip to Germany to take on RB Leipzig on December 10, before a little break and then European football returns in January.
Straight off the bat, it’s a trip to Monaco, before Villa’s final Champions League group game will be against Celtic.
As of this moment, Emery’s side occupy the final play-off spot, but it’s pretty jam-packed right now.
Only three points separate Villa and leaders Liverpool, but the same amount of points separate the Midlands side and Atletico Madrid in 23rd.
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