Unai Emery has a few selection dilemmas ahead of Aston Villa's clash with FC Basel
Jadon Sancho of Aston Villa
Jadon Sancho of Aston Villa(Image: Ryan Browne/Shutterstock)
Aston Villa go in search of their fifth win of the Europa League phase on Thursday night when they face FC Basel.
Unai Emery’s side travel to St. Jakob-Park on the back of a 2–1 victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal, with Emi Buendia securing all three points with the final kick of the game.
Villa have the chance to claim an eighth straight win on Thursday, a result that would also strengthen their hopes of finishing in the top two of their Europa League group.
After beating Bologna and Feyenoord, Villa suffered a shock defeat to Go Ahead Eagles, but responded with successive home wins over Maccabi Tel Aviv and BSC Young Boys.
Opponents Basel have won two and lost three of their opening five matches, leaving them in 24th place in the standings.
Emi Martinez has started Villa’s last three European fixtures and could line up behind a defence of Victor Lindelöf, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres and Lucas Digne.
Matty Cash has not started any of Villa’s last three Europa League games, while Ian Maatsen has been preferred to Digne in recent league matches.
In midfield, Lamare Bogarde could return to the starting XI, potentially alongside Amadou Onana.
Jadon Sancho is expected to start on the left, though it remains unclear whether Evann Guessand will be available, with Emery set to address the media on Wednesday evening.
If Guessand is ruled out, John McGinn may start on the right instead of Morgan Rogers - who has started each of the last nine matches - with Emi Buendia operating in the number 10 role behind Donyell Malen.
That would leave Maatsen, Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans and Boubacar Kamara among the substitutes.
Villa predicted XI: Martinez, Lindelof, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Bogarde, Onana, McGinn, Buendia, Sancho, Malen.
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