Emery has lost to Barcelona 21 times: Barcelona vs. Aston Villa prediction
On November 3, Barcelona will host Aston Villa in the fourth round of the Champions League league phase. The Catalans have collected six points and sit eighth, while the English club are second with nine points. Both teams are aiming to remain among the leaders, but the hosts come into the fixture after a difficult spell, while the visitors are struggling defensively.
Barcelona: rebuilding confidence and dealing with injuries
Hansi Flick’s side began the season with 11 consecutive wins, but then suffered two painful defeats. First, the Catalans lost to PSG (2-4) in the Champions League before going down to Real Madrid (1-2) in La Liga. A 6-1 thrashing of Alavés helped restore their confidence. The manager was also able to give several key players a rest by making early substitutions. Barcelona now face another serious test against an opponent who have yet to drop points in European competition.
The hosts’ main problem is injuries in defence. Andreas Christensen, Javi Espart, Eric García and Jules Koundé remain sidelined. Dani Olmo and Roony Bardghji are also unavailable. Despite the absences, Barcelona’s home record is impressive: since the start of last season, the team have won 30 of their 33 matches on home soil, scoring 107 goals. All three defeats came against top-level opponents. In their previous home meeting with an English club, Barcelona thrashed Newcastle 7-2.
Aston Villa: perfect Champions League start and defensive problems
Unai Emery’s side have gradually recovered from a difficult start to the season linked to the departures of six first-team players. In their last five Premier League matches, the Birmingham outfit have recorded three wins and two draws. Their Champions League campaign has been even more successful: Aston Villa defeated Club Brugge (3-2), Fenerbahçe (6-0) and Viking (3-1). However, their latest results are cause for concern — a 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth and a 1-1 draw with Fulham showed that the team still lack consistency.
The visitors’ defence is a serious concern. Across their last 10 matches, opponents have created 29 big chances against Villa, with a combined xG of 17.8. Reliable performances from goalkeeper Zion Suzuki have helped compensate for the defenders’ mistakes. Matteo Ruggeri, Amadou Onana and Aaron Wan-Bissaka will miss the game through injury. In attack, the main hopes are pinned on Nicolas Jackson, who has scored eight goals in 12 appearances this season. Another issue is Emery’s record against Barcelona: just three wins in 30 matches.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Barcelona have won 30 of their last 33 home matches, scoring 107 goals
- Aston Villa have won all three of their matches in this season’s Champions League
- Unai Emery has suffered 21 defeats in 30 matches against Barcelona
Will Barcelona end the visitors’ winning run: Barcelona vs. Aston Villa prediction
Barcelona received the necessary emotional boost after their thrashing of Alavés and will look to take advantage of home-field advantage. Despite the numerous injuries in defence, the Catalans’ attacking potential gives them a strong chance of scoring several goals.
Aston Villa are capable of causing problems for the hosts’ defence, but the large number of chances they concede makes them vulnerable against such a prolific opponent. Emery’s poor record in clashes with the Catalans also works against the visitors. We expect an open game, with Flick’s side holding the edge.
