Aston Villa have struggled in the Premier League this season but can turn their focus on Europe tonight when they host Fenerbahce.
A summer of churn at Villa Park has inevitably led to a slow start but Unai Emery’s men did win their Champions League opener at Club Brugge and can solidify a place in the top eight with another victory against the Turkish giants.
Fenerbahçe opened their Champions League campaign with a 1-1 draw against Roma in Istanbul, and they returned from the international break with a 3-0 win at Çaykur Rizespor on Saturday.
Their squad is packed with experience, with Ederson, Milan Škriniar, Nathan Aké, N’Golo Kanté, Matteo Guendouzi and Marco Asensio all among the big names.
These sides met just nine months ago. Jadon Sancho’s first-half header gave Villa a 1-0 win in Istanbul in the Europa League league phase in January, a result that sealed their place in the last 16 on the way to lifting the trophy. Their only other meetings came in the first round of the UEFA Cup in 1977-78.
Where to Watch Aston Villa v Fenerbahçe: TV and online streams
Aston Villa v Fenerbahçe kicks off at 8pm BST on Wednesday, October 14 at Villa Park. In the UK, you can watch it on TNT Sports and stream via HBO Max.
If you live outside the UK, click the LINK HERE to find out where to watch it in your region.
Stats for Aston Villa v Fenerbahçe
- Villa have won all three matches between the sides, all without conceding, Jadon Sancho’s goal earning a 1-0 away victory on Matchday 7 of last season’s Europa League.
- The English side also won 4-0 at home and 2-0 away in the 1977/78 UEFA Cup first round.
- Villa have won five of their seven matches against Turkish sides (D1 L1), including all three at home – although this is their first fixture at Villa Park since beating Trabzonspor 2-1 in the 1994/95 UEFA Cup second round second leg, a tie they lost on away goals (2-2 aggregate).
- A 2-1 second leg win at Nottingham Forest in last season’s Europa League knockout phase play-offs second leg – they lost 2-4 on aggregate – was only Fenerbahçe’s second in their last 11 games against English clubs (D2 L7).
- Fenerbahçe are without a win in their last five Champions League matches, qualifying included, against Premier League opponents (D1 L4). This is their first fixture since losing 0-3 at home and 0-2 away to Arsenal in the 2013/14 play-off round.
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