Villa Guard Against Complacency for Champions League Viking Invasion
My Old Man Said — An Aston Villa PodcastShow Notes
Aston Villa host Viking FK at Villa Park in the Champions League league phase, after the weeks back-to-back wins - a 6-0 win over Fenerbahçe and a 1-0 win at Newcastle United on Saturday. The show's warning is simple: this is the kind of game Villa are expected to win, and Scandinavian sides have a history of punishing complacency.
The team news is a mess on the left. Matteo Ruggeri is out for around two months, Aaron Wan-Bissaka for several weeks and Johan Manzambi sits this one out as a precaution. Ian Maatsen is back in training and touch and go. Taylor Harwood-Bellis is now registered in the Champions League squad under UEFA's 60-day injury rule, so the show asks who plays left-back: a managed Maatsen, Tyrone Mings or Pau Torres, or even Lamare Bogarde.
Viking, the show argues, are not a makeweight. A well-drilled side who like to play on the front foot, score freely and will offer a test for Unai Emery's recent work on his defensive unit.
Empty seats and the club seemingly dumping tickets on the secondary market, prove that they were wrong to have prices up to £99 for members for such a game. Plus there's December fixture changes, and the latest press reports on Manchester City's sanction.
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Credits:
David Michael - @myoldmansaid | Chris Budd - @BUDD_music / Phillip Shaw - @prsgame
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