Aston Villa begin a decisive Champions League week at Villa Park with Fenerbahçe arriving for the second matchday of the league phase, both sides looking to turn a tentative start into a result that can shape their European campaign.
Unai Emery’s Villa come into the night after being held by Brentford in a match that appeared to be theirs after they had cancelled out the opening goal, only for the London side to respond again. The point left a sense of frustration around Birmingham, and the visit of Fenerbahçe offers an immediate chance to restore momentum under the floodlights.
Fenerbahçe travel with a squad containing familiar names across the pitch, despite entering the competition outside the group most widely expected to challenge for qualification. Their Champions League opener ended level at home to Roma, while they stand fourth in the Turkish league, three points behind the leaders.
Marco Asensio will not be involved in the trip to Aston Villa after medical assessments found a reaction around his knee following the previous match. The club also reported knee concerns for N’Golo Kanté and a calf issue for Romelu Lukaku, but both players were included in the travelling squad.
Asensio’s absence increases the attacking responsibility on Mason Greenwood and Vedat Muriqi, with Kanté and Matteo Guendouzi expected to provide experience and control in midfield. For Villa, the challenge is to impose the tempo at home and avoid allowing the Turkish side the kind of occasion that can alter the mood of an entire European week.
