Aston Villa stages European group stage football at Villa Park for the first time in 14-years as they host surprise package HSK Zrinjski Mostar from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Villains are high on confidence after beating Brighton & Hove Albion 6-1 in the lunch-time kick-off on Saturday. Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick, whilst Jacob Ramsey and Douglas Luiz also got in on the action.
Villa suffered a 3-2 defeat to Legia Warszaw in their opening group stage match, and so a win is needed here if they want to progress to the group stage. Unai Emery has a dilemma on his hands as he will want to give his side the best chance of progressing but there is also a Midlands Derby against Wolves to think about on Sunday.
He’s been dealt a blow with Boubacar Kamara, Jacob Ramsey, and club record signing Moussa Diaby were all ruled out. Leon Bailey could make a return to action and so there at least some changes to be made to the starting XI.
Zrinjski Mostar claimed a shock win over AZ Alkmaar, coming back from three goals down to win 4-3 at the Stadion Bijeli Brijeg so they will be no push overs. Club captain Nemanja Bilbija and Tomislav Kis are two men that the Villa defence will have to keep quiet. Bilbija has 10 goals in 16 games, meanwhile Croatian forward Kis has six goals in 15.
The most used formation this season has been a 4-2-3-1, and that is what brought us six goals against Brighton, so that shape should remain the same. Several changes are being tipped to freshen up the side, but this side should still be capable of winning.
With that in mind, flick through the pages to see the 11 players we predict Villa to start, and the nine substitutes as well as a brief explanation for each inclusion.
13. Sub: Clement Lenglet
A good option to have if Villa have the game wrapped up. | Getty Images Photo: Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
14. Sub: Calum Chambers
If Matty Cash needs to be subbed off or rested for Wolves - Chambers is your man. | Getty Images Photo: Eric Alonso/Getty Images)
15. Sub: Leander Dendoncker
Could he and Tielemans work? It’d be good to give Douglas Luiz a rest, but instead we see a place on the bench for him. | Getty Images Photo: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
16. Sub: Ollie Watkins
He’s on somewhat of a scoring streak so you might not want to stop that. It’d be good though to rest him for Wolves, and if he needs to come on, he’s fresh from the bench. | Getty Images Photo: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)