Subs: Keller, Marzino, Lakomy, Itten, Imeri, Chaiwa, Elia, Virginius, Abdu Conte, Benito, Blum, Males.
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Aston Villa: Martinez, Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Rogers, Ramsey, Watkins.
Subs: Gauci, Zych, Diego Carlos, Barkley, Duran, Buendia, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Bailey, Swinkels, Young.
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Referee: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria).
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Unsere Startelf für den #UCL-Auftakt 🆚 @AVFCOfficial 🟡⚫️
YB ohne Pfeiffer, Janko, F. Conte, Crnovrsanin (verletzt), Husic, Bajrami (nicht im Aufgebot) und Seiler (U19).#bscyb #ybforever #ybavl pic.twitter.com/P6Q24tag5f
— BSC YOUNG BOYS (@BSC_YB) September 17, 2024
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Your Aston Villa squad for our first Champions League match 🫡#UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/dIzacg3DBD
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 17, 2024
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After a 41-year wait, Aston Villa compete once more for Europe’s biggest prize. The timing could not be more poignant, with the passing yesterday of 1982’s golden boy. Rest well, Gary Shaw. Kick-off in Bern is at 5.45pm BST.
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Main Events
Unai Emery speaks to TNT Sports. “Good evening…we're going to play with confidence…we're going to have fun…we're going to be competitive…In the past we've had to rely on our bench players to step up and we need that again today…We looked good in training but…we need to stay focused on the game plan…we're going to play with character.”
How good was Gary Shaw? Diego Maradona once asked for his shirt. Yes, that Sounds good. Maradona made the request after the Villa striker helped his side beat a savage Barcelona team in the second leg of the 1982 Super Cup. This article by our old friend Paul Doyle tells that story with great enthusiasm and is one that you must read. If you haven't seen it yet, I hope you enjoy it. You're welcome.
The Guardian, in the elegant hands of legendary reporter David Lacey, described Villa's greatest night in 1982 as follows:
…And today, we'd like to share some memories of five heroes. If you missed Ben Fisher's piece this morning, make yourself a cup of tea, pull up a chair and enjoy – it's a thoroughly enjoyable piece and is sure to warm the hearts of Villa fans, and anyone who loves sport.
Young Boys, the reigning Swiss champions, are currently bottom of the Swiss Super League and are winless in their first six games. But that doesn't tell the whole story. After losing their opening three league games in July, they've stabilized a bit, with three draws, two wins in the Swiss Cup and wins at home and away against Galatasaray to qualify for the league stages of this new Champions League. (Branding officials don't seem to have thought this through.) Still, it wasn't an ideal start for Patrick Ramen's team. In-form Villa will have a chance to get their CLLS (I know, we have to call it something) campaign back on track with a win.
If it ain't broke, etc. Villa have won three of their opening four Premier League games and could have gained something from their one loss, so manager Unai Emery is understandably convinced there is nothing to fix for now, and he named the same 11 players who started the 3-2 comeback win over Everton at the weekend.
team
Boys: Von Balmuth, Atecame, Camara, Zucrow, Hajam, Niasse, Roper, Monteiro, Ugrinich, Corry, Gamvura.
Subs: Keller, Margino, Lacomie, Itten, Imeli, Chaiwa, Elia, Virginius, Abdou Conte, Benito, Blum, Mares.
Aston Villa: Martinez, Bogaard, Konsa, Torres, Digne, Onana, Tielemans, McGinn, Rodgers, Ramsey, Watkins.
Subs: Gaucci, Ziff, Diego Carlos, Barkley, Duran, Buendia, Nedeljkovic, Maatsen, Bailey, Swinkels, Young.
Judge: Georgi Kabakov (Bulgaria).
Our Start #UCL– Out of touch 🆚 Follow 🟡⚫️
YB Ohne Pfeifer, Janko, F. Conte, Kronovrsanin (Ferret), Husic, Bajrami (Nicht im Aufgewod), Sailer (U19).#bscyb #Forever #Ibavul pic.twitter.com/P6Q24tag5f
— BSC Young Boys (@BSC_YB) September 17, 2024
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Aston Villa squad for their first Champions League match#UpTheVilla pic.twitter.com/dIzacg3DBD
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) September 17, 2024
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preamble
For the first time in 41 years, Aston Villa will once again be competing for Europe's biggest prize. The timing couldn't be more emotional as the 1982 golden boy passed away yesterday. Rest in Peace Gary Shaw. Kick-off in Bern is at 5.45pm BST.
