As Aston Villa gear up for their Champions League Round of 16 clash with Club Brugge on Tuesday, Unai Emery faces a pivotal decision. After a hard-fought 2-0 FA Cup win over Cardiff City on Friday, the Villans showed they’ve got what it takes when they’re in the mood. But from my perspective, sticking with the same lineup and formation that did the job in Birmingham Friday evening could be the key to unlocking success in Belgium.
Against Cardiff, Villa deployed a more familiar formation that’s been associated with an Emery side. The attacking trio behind Watkins, Leon Bailey, Marcus Rashford, and Marco Asensio stretched Cardiff thin, paving the way for two fantastic goals by the world-class Asensio.
Why tweak a winning formula? Club Brugge already clipped us 1-0 earlier this season in the league phase, a loss that still rankles. Their home ground is a fortress, and their players can pounce on us if we make any slip-ups. With Pau Torres, Amadou Onana, and Tyron Mings out, we have to be at our very best at the back.
A good result in Belgium—a draw or better—sets us up for the Villa Park return leg, where we’ve been a force this season. Let’s roll out the Cardiff lineup, hold the shape, and prove Villa’s European run is built to last. UTV
Absolutely agree it has to be the same starting line up no changes.