barcelona-champions-league
Aston Villa's perfect Champions League start faces its biggest test yet when Unai Emery takes his side to Barcelona tonight.
The clash at the Camp Nou brings a chance to turn an impressive opening to the league phase into something supporters will remember for years.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery-1
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery-1
Villa have won their first three matches, scoring 12 goals along the way, so there is plenty for Barcelona to respect, even with home advantage and a squad packed with attacking talent.
Emery's men will need that European confidence after a less satisfying week domestically, with their Carabao Cup exit at Bournemouth followed by Saturday's 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Nicolas Jackson put Villa ahead against the Cottagers, but they failed to protect the lead, and Barcelona will demand a far more complete performance from Emery's men.
Boubacar Kamara celebrates with Nicolas Jackson
Boubacar Kamara celebrates with Nicolas Jackson
The Villa boss has accepted that the hosts are favourites, but nine points already on the board give Villa a useful platform from which to chase an upset.
Emery has also spoken about testing the progress of a team he has spent four years building, and there are few better places to find out how far that work can take them.
Barcelona's recent results offer encouragement and a warning. Defeats by PSG and Real Madrid show they can be beaten, before a 6-1 demolition of Alaves demonstrated their firepower.
History adds another layer to the occasion.
The clubs last met in January 1983, when Villa's 3–0 victory after extra time secured a 3-1 aggregate success in the European Super Cup.
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|Aston Villa v Barcelona: all competitive meetings before tonight|
|Date|Match|Score|Competition|
|---|
|1 March 1978|Aston Villa v Barcelona|2–2|UEFA Cup quarter-final, first leg|
|15 March 1978|Barcelona v Aston Villa|2–1|UEFA Cup quarter-final, second leg|
|19 January 1983|Barcelona v Aston Villa|1–0|UEFA Super Cup, first leg|
|26 January 1983|Aston Villa v Barcelona|3–0 after extra time|UEFA Super Cup, second leg|
The travelling support would gladly take a night with anything like that ending, but for Emery, the task is to make sure the occasion brings the best out of his players.
With so much attacking quality waiting at the other end, any weakness in Barcelona's defence could be worth targeting.
Andreas Christensen ruled out as Aston Villa target famous Barcelona win
Andreas-Christensen-Manchester-United-Transfers
Andreas Christensen
Flick has now confirmed that Andreas Christensen will miss the game, denying Barcelona a possible reinforcement at the back, despite murmurs the Dane could return, with their hopes of that now dashed amid a defensive injury crisis.
The defender had taken part in some training on Sunday, but his involvement was limited, and he is not ready to return against Villa.
Get Spanish Football News reported Flick's update from Monday's press conference.
Christensen's appearance alongside his teammates had raised hopes of a comeback, but Villa will not face him tonight.
Barcelona visit Atlético Madrid on Sunday, although Flick has left the 30-year-old's availability for that match open.
Christensen's absence comes alongside those of Jules Koundé, Eric Garcia and Xavi Espart, leaving Flick without four defensive stars.
The Barcelona boss has acknowledged the difficulty of managing those shortages, with his choices restricted across the back line.
For Villa, the opening is clear enough, and they need to get their attacking players into positions where they can test Barcelona's remaining fit defenders.
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