Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv: Line-ups, stats and preview

Preview for Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Aston Villa may be favourites to win the Europa League but boss Unai Emery needs no reminding that they need to be at their best in every game.

Villa beat Bologna and Feyenoord in their first two games in the competition and seemed to be cruising to a top-eight finish in the league phase but they surprisingly came unstuck last time out, losing 2-1 at the Go Ahead Eagles

They host Maccabi Tel Aviv tomorrow night in a game that looks a home banker on paper but Emery was urging caution this afternoon.

He said: “It is difficult to say who is the favourite. To win this competition is very difficult and so is winning one game. Of course our wishes are to win this competition but we have to focus in the process we are doing.

“We have to focus each match and respect the competition. 

“We lost at Go Ahead Eagles three weeks ago and they showed us how we can lose matches if we are not respecting 100% and focussed 100%. If we don’t respect the team and the competition we are not going to win. 

“We have reacted to our poor start to the season. We are keeping consistency but not enough and that is an example. 

“Every day it is important how we are in training and then we are going to show tomorrow. Tomorrow is a test of how we will respond to losing the last match in the competition.”

Villa, who lost 2-0 at Liverpool on Saturday, go into the game boosted by captain John McGinn signing a new deal.

Emery added: “In those three years we have been together he has shown us and me how he is leading the team in all moments. 

“The most important thing is how he is responding on the field and on the field he is responding very well.

“He can play as a midfielder, as a winger and his commitment to Aston Villa is a huge commitment. Before I arrived here and since I arrived, he has shown me for the next years he is going to be an important player for us.”

Team News for Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Emery made wholesale changes for the defeat to the Eagles and could do so again.

Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendia, Youri Tielemans and Andres Garcia are all injured while Ross Barkley is ineligible.

Predicted lineups for Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Onana, Bogarde; Sancho, Elliott, Malen; Watkins

Maccabi Tel Aviv: Mishpati; Asante, Shlomo, Camara, Revivo; Belic, Sissokho; Davida, Andrade, Varela; Peretz

How to watch Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel-Aviv: TV and online streams

Aston Villa versus Maccabi Tel Aviv kicks off tomorrow night at 8pm UK time. You can watch it on TNT Sports and stream it via the discovery+ app.

Stats for Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel-Aviv

• This is the first ever meeting between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv, and indeed Villa’s first game against an Israeli club
• Maccabi Tel Aviv have lost all four of their major European matches against English clubs – they lost two games against Stoke in the 2011-12 Europa League and both against Chelsea in the 2015-16 Champions League
• Maccabi Tel Aviv have lost nine of their last 12 major European matches (W2 D1) and have kept one clean sheet in their last 23 major European games

Prediction for Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Unai Emery was right to talk down the game as a formality, but there is no doubt Villa go in as heavy favourites.

They ought to have too much for their Israeli visitors.

Prediction: Aston Villa 3-0 Maccabi Tel Aviv