Aston Villa-Bayern, with the memory of a final

He Aston Villawho started the Champions League by losing Boys by 0-3, they became European champions for the first and only time in 1981-82 after defeating Bavaria 1-0 thanks to a goal from Peter Withe at the Kuip stadium, in Rotterdam, on May 25, 1982. Now, for the second time in their history and at Villa Park, both teams meet again.

While the Villa, now managed by Unai Emery, has the Champions League in its showcases, the giant Bavaria He has six and dreams of winning at home, the Allianz-Arena in Munich, his seventh.

Aston Villa-Bayern

Villa Park, 9:00 pm

Aston Villa: Emiliano Martínez; Konsa, Diego Carlos, Pau Torres, Digne; Bailey, Onana, Tielemans, Ramsey; Rogers and Watkins
coaches: Unai Emery
Bavaria: Neuer; Guerreiro, Upamecano, Kim Min-jae, Davies; Kimmich, Pavlovic; Olise, Musiala, Gnabry; H. Kane
coaches: Vincent Kompany
Referee: Radu Petrescu (Romania)

The good news yesterday for Vincent Kompany, coach of Bayern, was that Harry Kane, who suffered a severe blow to his ankle on Saturday against Bayer Leverkusen (1-1) by Xabi Alonso, was able to train normally. The Munich team, leader of the Bundesliga, started the new Champions League by endorsing Dinamo Zagreb 9-2, which allowed them to become the first leader.

Unai Emery, for his part, confirmed that, although they are already training, Tyrone Mings, Matty Cash and Boubacar Kamara are not yet in a position to play today.

“We are ready to compete,” said the coach of Aston Villa, a team that has not played in the Champions League for 41 years. “It’s the first Champions League game at home after all this time and it’s very special,” Unai Emery said.

“Everyone is very excited. There have been no Champions League nights at Villa Park for a long time,” said Ollie Watkins, England international and one of the stars of the Birmingham team.

Finally, the German Football Federation (DFB) opened an investigation into Bayern’s substitute goalkeeper, Sven Ulreich, for the incident against Bayer Leverkusen, whose sporting director, Simon Rolfes, he insulted.