Barcelona v Aston Villa: Preview, predicted line-ups & team news
Barcelona have gone 18 Champions League games without a clean sheet and face an Aston Villa side with three wins from three. Predicted XIs, injuries and our pick.
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Aston Villa arrive at Camp Nou as one of five sides on nine points from three games, and they sit second in the Champions League table. Barcelona are eighth on six points after a 4-2 defeat at Paris Saint Germain on 20 October.
The hosts need a response in matchday four of the league phase. Villa have the better record, but the trip to Catalonia is by far the hardest of their three games so far.
Barcelona
Aston VillaVilla have scored 12 and conceded three in their three matches. They won 3-2 at Club Brugge on 8 September, then beat Fenerbahçe 6-0 and Viking 3-1 at Villa Park. They average 4.0 goals a game and 2.52 expected goals, with 10 shots on target per match.
Barcelona opened with a 5-1 home win over Feyenoord, then won 4-1 at Galatasaray. The loss in Paris followed. They have scored 11 and conceded six, an average of 2.0 against per game. They have not kept a clean sheet in any of their three matches, and have gone 18 Champions League games without one, the longest run of any team in this season's edition.
Rotation is unlikely at either end. Both sides sit inside the top eight, and the top eight earn direct passage to the last 16. Barcelona cannot afford a second defeat in four games. Villa will want to protect a perfect start.
The real selection issues are enforced. Barcelona are missing six players, including Dani Olmo. That leaves the hosts short at the back, where Villa's attack is scoring freely.
BarcelonaAston Villa
Barcelona start as strong favourites, per Al Jazeera's preview. Unai Emery has been in charge of Villa since October 2022, and he has built a side with a 100% record in this season's competition. Neither manager's pre-match comments were available when this preview was written.
Barcelona are likely to stay with their 4-3-3, though the defensive absences force changes. Villa have started all three games in a 4-2-3-1 and should not change.
Barcelona: Joan García; Cancelo, Cubarsí, Pesquer, Balde; De Jong, Pedri, Fermín; Yamal, Gabriel Jesus, Raphinha
Aston Villa: Wright; Cash, Lindelöf, Pau Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Goretzka; Buendía, McGinn, Garnacho; Jackson
Barcelona v Aston Villa kicks off at 20:00 GMT on Tuesday 3 November at Camp Nou. TNT Sports have rights to 172 of the 189 matches in 2026/27. TNT Sports is the likely home for this game, but the broadcaster for this specific fixture is not confirmed. We will update this page closer to kick-off. If level after 90 minutes, there is no extra time in the league phase, and the match finishes as a draw.
Stats for Barcelona v Aston Villa
- Barcelona have 11 goals from three Champions League games this season, an average of 3.7 per game, and have conceded in all three.
- Villa have won all three of their league-phase games, scoring 12 and conceding three. Their biggest win was 6-0 against Fenerbahçe.
- Barcelona's biggest win this season is 5-1 against Feyenoord. Their only defeat was 4-2 away at Paris Saint Germain.
- Villa average 7.33 corners per game against Barcelona's 4.33, but have 45.7% possession against Barcelona's 65.3%.
Match Result: Barcelona to win
Barcelona's lack of clean sheets and Villa's scoring rate point to goals at both ends. The hosts have home advantage and more individual quality in attack, and should edge a lively contest. Villa will score, but Barcelona will score more.