Fenerbahçe arrive at Villa Park without Marco Asensio, depriving the Turkish side of a major attacking option for their Champions League meeting with Aston Villa and denying the Spaniard a return against the club he represented last season.
Asensio ruled out after knee problem
Fenerbahçe confirmed that Asensio, N’Golo Kanté and Romelu Lukaku all suffered knocks in their previous match. Medical checks identified knee issues for Asensio and Kanté, while Lukaku has a calf complaint.
- Asensio has been excluded from the trip to Villa Park.
- Kanté will travel but is expected to begin among the substitutes.
- Lukaku is also available only from the bench.
Asensio had scored in Fenerbahçe’s victory over Rizespor, although he was taken off after 59 minutes, having appeared to feel discomfort during the game. His absence removes both a scorer and a player with recent knowledge of the Villa Park environment.
A return postponed at Villa Park
The match carried particular significance for Asensio, who spent the second half of the 2024-25 campaign at Aston Villa on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.
He was part of the Villa squad that reached the Champions League quarter-finals before being eliminated by PSG, the club to which he was contracted at the time. Across his brief spell in England, the former Real Madrid player produced eight goals and one assist in 21 appearances.
For Fenerbahçe, the consequence is clear on a night when margins matter: Asensio will not be available to lead or support the attack, while Kanté and Lukaku offer possible reinforcement only later in the contest.
