Aston Villa host Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday night, and here’s how to watch all the drama unfold from Villa Park…
These two sides meet again after the 1982 European Cup Final in Rotterdam, which Villa of course famously won as they wrote an unforgettable chapter in the club’s history.
READ MORE: How to watch Liverpool vs Bologna: TV channel, live stream and preview
After a long wait to return to the top table, Unai Emery has guided the club back to be amongst Europe’s elite this season, and they started in positive fashion with a 3-0 win at Young Boys.
However, this will be a real test of their ability to compete with the best sides in the competition, as Bayern arrive after an excellent start to the season under Vincent Kompany, which included a 9-2 win over Dinamo Zagreb last time out in this competition.
In turn, Villa will have to be at their very best if they are to take something from this game and make it one of the more memorable nights that the club has enjoyed in recent times, and here’s how to watch all the action.
Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich
Champions League
Wednesday October 2, 20:00 KO
Villa Park
UK – TNT Sports 1/Discovery+
USA – Paramount+
France – Canal+ Sport
Canada – DAZN
Germany – DAZN
Portugal – DAZN
Spain – Movistar Liga de Campeones
Italy – Sky Sport
Ireland – Virgin Media Two
Australia – Stan Sport
New Zealand – DAZN
Match preview and prediction
With the quality and experience that Bayern have at this level, they go into this showdown as the favourites despite the magnitude of the occasion and atmosphere that they’re walking into at Villa Park.
The Bavarian giants have players who have operated at the top for a long time, and they will have to draw on that if they are to avoid coming under an early siege from Villa, who will be desperate to make an early mark and build momentum as the game goes on.
Conversely, Emery knows that while it’s vital to give the home crowd something to get behind in the early stages, his players need to keep their composure and put on a clinical performance at both ends of the pitch, while controlling tempo and possession for large periods to build sustained pressure and limit Bayern’s threat.
We’ve seen Villa produce stunning displays at home against Manchester City and Arsenal over the past year or so, and under the lights on a massive European night, we’re backing them to do the same in this one and make a statement.
It will be a cagey affair with both sides having chances and ultimately scoring as Villa’s defence has been leaking goals for some time now, but with the firepower that they possess and on such a big night for the club, our pick is a Villa win as they look to overwhelm and overrun Bayern, and do so just enough to get the three points.
