Villa gear up for first Champions League home match in 42 years

Aston Villa are playing their first Champions League match at home in 42 years this evening.

Author: Molly HookingsPublished 2nd Oct 2024

Aston Villa are gearing up for their first home match in the Champions League in 42 years this evening.

They face Bayern Munich at 8pm.

Boss, Unai Emery, said: “The injured players, I know it’s the worst for them. Every player wants to play in the Champions League and matches like this. We have to accept it.

“I want the best players on the field and I want to face their best players. I want to play with our best players, accepting that we have some players injured. We’re ready to compete.”

“Hopefully we can play more times in the Champions League, but it’s the first match after a long time. It’s a new competition for us because before it was the European Cup.

“We’re motivated and excited to play with our supporters in Villa Park in this scenario, this match, remembering the final of the European Cup played against them 42 years ago.

“Now, in this moment in our process we have to try to play one match more. It’s against one of the best teams in the world and maybe they’re favourites with another three or four teams to win this competition.

“I want to play matches like this and I want to play consistently matches like this. In the Premier League, we are facing teams like them, favourites – Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal – that can win this competition this year. They are favourites with other teams like Bayern Munich.

“Playing in Europe, we are very, very happy to face Bayern at home and hopefully we can enjoy the game. Hopefully we can compete and show our best against them.”

Celebrities are showing their support for the team, with Birmingham local Ozzy Osbourne posting a photo on social media with the phrase "Up The Villa!"

First for all the latest news from across the UK every hour on Hits Radio on DAB, at hitsradio.co.uk and on the Rayo app.