Aston Villa take on RB Leipzig in the Champions League on Tuesday, and here’s how Unai Emery’s starting line-up could look for the encounter.
Villa currently sit in ninth place in the standings after taking 10 points from our opening five games in the competition, and a win here would give us a real chance of qualifying directly to the next phase.
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It certainly won’t be easy against a dangerous Leipzig side, who despite losing all five of their games in Europe so far this season, have performed much better domestically and are in fourth spot in the Bundesliga, and they possess quality within their ranks to hurt us if we’re not in good form.
In turn, Villa must produce a top performance to come away with a positive result, and we could see multiple changes made to the side that beat Southampton this past weekend.
Mings, Philogene among those to start for Villa?
Emiliano Martinez will continue between the posts, but there could be a new-look backline in front of him with Matty Cash returning at right-back, thus allowing Ezri Konsa to shift back into the middle.
Lucas Digne is expected to replace Ian Maatsen at left-back, while after getting a rest at the weekend following his brilliant shift against Brentford, could Tyrone Mings get the nod and replace Pau Torres?
The Villa stalwart gives us more physicality and defensive solidity, and in a difficult game on the road in Europe, that could be decisive in our push to get a good result, albeit his last outing in the Champions League was memorable for the wrong reasons.
Boubacar Kamara and Youri Tielemans should continue in our midfield pivot, although Amadou Onana is now pushing to take his place in the side back after returning from injury, while Ross Barkley will be a fresher option if Emery wants more energy in that area of the pitch.
John McGinn and Morgan Rogers will keep their respective places, with the Villa skipper seemingly set to move across to the right to fill the void left behind by the injured Leon Bailey, while Jaden Philogene could come in on the left as he gives us energy and a tireless defensive work ethic to help keep our solid shape and structure.
Despite his match-winning goal at the weekend, Jhon Duran is likely to make way for Ollie Watkins, and so it’s hoped that Villa have the perfect game plan and the personnel on the pitch to execute and secure a crucial win.
Agree with the Villa XI below, or would you make any changes?
Predicted Aston Villa XI vs RB Leipzig: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; McGinn, Rogers, Philogene; Watkins.