Unai Emery is expected to make three changes to his Aston Villa lineup for the Champions League clash against Club Brugge on Tuesday, with Marcus Rashford potentially set to be left out.
Villa return to European action on March 4, just days after their 2-0 FA Cup victory over Cardiff City. Marco Asensio’s brace was the decisive factor in that game, though Cardiff managed to limit Villa’s attacking influence for long spells. While improvements could have been made, the win puts Emery’s side in a strong position ahead of their upcoming fixture, where multiple changes may be on the cards.
Rashford Set to Be Dropped for Villa’s Brugge Clash
Following a much-needed clean sheet in their last match, Emiliano Martinez is expected to retain his place in goal. The Argentine had little to do, making just one save, but will be pleased to have kept a shutout.
In defense, two changes are likely. With Andres Garcia unavailable due to not being registered for the Champions League, Lamare Bogarde could shift to right-back after winning all of his tackles against Cardiff. Axel Disasi may also be drafted in alongside Ezri Konsa, with Lucas Digne potentially returning to the lineup. That would likely mean Ian Maatsen drops to the bench after losing three duels in the last game.
In midfield, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans are expected to continue their partnership, while Marco Asensio should retain his attacking midfield role after his match-winning performance, which included an 86% pass accuracy and two goals.
On the wings, Leon Bailey could keep his spot after an impressive display, where he registered 100% shot accuracy and won all of his tackles. However, Rashford may find himself on the bench after struggling in his second start for Villa, completing just 22% of his crosses and losing five duels. This could open the door for Morgan Rogers to return to the starting XI after making a late substitute appearance last time out.
Up front, Ollie Watkins is likely to lead the attack once again despite failing to score from five shots in the previous match. He will be eager to add to his lone Champions League goal when Villa travel to Belgium.
A controversial Tyrone Mings handball nearly cost Villa a top-eight finish last season, and Emery’s squad will need to be at their best to avoid any similar mishaps against Brugge.
With memories of last year’s Conference League semi-final defeat to Olympiacos still fresh, Villa will be aware of how costly a poor first-leg performance can be. However, their squad depth should give them the quality needed to secure a positive result, even if Rashford is used as an impact substitute.
Mings’ Future at Villa in Doubt
Meanwhile, Tyrone Mings’ future at Aston Villa remains uncertain, with the defender increasingly likely to leave at the end of the season.
Villa’s hopes of securing consecutive Champions League qualifications appear to be fading, and unless they can pull off a shock European triumph, their recent Premier League struggles could see them miss out on a top-four finish.
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