Frank Christian
Aston Villa is set to kick off their inaugural Champions League campaign at the Wankdorf Stadium, facing off against Young Boys in what appears to be a favorable matchup.
The team, under Unai Emery’s guidance, has shown strong performance this season by winning three out of four matches, with their sole loss against Arsenal. Their overall form has been commendable.
In contrast, Young Boys, the defending champions of the Swiss Super League, dominated the previous season, finishing a notable 12 points ahead of Lugano.
However, remarkably, they find themselves at the bottom of the league after six matches, still searching for their first win, having conceded 14 goals in the process. Despite their struggles domestically, they managed to defeat Galatasaray to secure their Champions League position.
The Sporting News provides essential details for this match, including viewing options, kickoff timings, and the latest updates on team lineups.
Live Stream & TV Channel for Young Boys vs. Aston Villa
Here’s where to find the Champions League match in the UK:
TV channel: TNT Sports 1
Live stream: Discovery+
Fans in the UK can catch Aston Villa’s first UEFA Champions League game of the season on TNT Sports and through Discovery+. A 7-day free trial is available upon signing up for a membership on Discovery Plus.
Kickoff Time for Young Boys vs. Aston Villa
The Champions League match is scheduled at the Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland, with kickoff set for Tuesday, September 17 at 6:45 p.m. local time.
Here’s the equivalent time in the UK:
| Date | Tuesday, Sep. 17 |
| Kick-off time | 5:45 p.m. BST |
| Venue | Stadion Wankdorf |
| Location | Bern, Switzerland |
Predicted Lineups and Team News for Young Boys vs. Aston Villa
Aston Villa will face challenges with key absentees including Leon Bailey, Matty Cash, and Boubacar Kamara. They will also be missing backup goalie Robin Olsen.
Ollie Watkins is anticipated to keep his starting position after a stellar performance against Everton, with Jhon Duran likely entering the match in the second half.
Expected Aston Villa XI (4-2-3-1): Martinez (GK) — Nedeljkovic, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Onana, Barkley — McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers — Watkins.
Injuries: Bailey, Cash, Kamara, Olsen
Suspended: None
On the other hand, Young Boys are grappling with multiple injuries. Players like Saidy Janko, Meschack Elia, Abdu Conte, Patric Pfeiffer, Lukasz Lakomy, and Sadin Crnovrsanin are currently sidelined.
Silvere Ganvoula, who has netted three of the team’s seven league goals thus far, is set to lead their attack.
Expected Young Boys XI (4-2-3-1): Von Ballmoos (GK) — Blum, Camara, Zoukrou, Hadjam — Niasse, Lauper — Monteiro, Ugric, Colley — Ganvoula.
Injuries: Janko, Elia, Conte, Pfeiffer, Lakomy, Crnovrsanin
Suspended: None
Prediction for Young Boys vs. Aston Villa
The upcoming clash initially seemed evenly matched. However, due to Young Boys’ struggles in the Swiss Super League, they may find it tough against Aston Villa this week.
The Villans must also address their defensive shortcomings this season. Nevertheless, Young Boys should generate enough opportunities to challenge Villa. Ultimately, Villa’s attacking robustness may lead them to secure a narrow win. The forecast? A competitive 2-1 win for Aston Villa.
- Prediction: Young Boys 1 – 2 Aston Villa
This Week’s Champions League Fixtures
Wednesday, September 18
- BSC Young Boys vs. Aston Villa FC
- Juventus vs. PSV Eindhoven
- AC Milan vs. Liverpool FC
- FC Bayern München vs. GNK Dinamo
- Real Madrid C.F. vs. VfB Stuttgart
- Sporting Clube de Portugal vs. LOSC Lille
Thursday, September 19
- AC Sparta Praha vs. FC Salzburg
- Bologna FC 1909 vs. FC Shakhtar Donetsk
- Celtic FC vs. ŠK Slovan Bratislava
- Club Brugge KV vs. Borussia Dortmund
- Manchester City vs. FC Internazionale Milano
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Girona FC
Friday, September 20
- Feyenoord vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- FK Crvena Zvezda vs. SL Benfica
- AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona
- Atalanta BC vs. Arsenal FC
- Atlético de Madrid vs. RB Leipzig
- Stade Brestois 29 vs. SK Sturm Graz
