Aston Villa begin their Champions League campaign when they take on Young Boys at the Wankdorf Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Villa, who famously won the old European Cup in 1982, will be rubbing shoulders with Europe’s elite this season for the first time in more than four decades.
Unai Emery’s side warmed up for this clash with a thrilling 3-2 comeback win over Everton in the Premier League on Saturday, on an evening where both of my Villa Park plays landed.
That means Villa have won three of their opening four top-flight matches of the season so they should be heading out to Bern in buoyant mood.
Meanwhile, Young Boys are back in the Champions League again this season after hoovering up their sixth Swiss Super League crown in seven years last term.
Quite astonishingly, Patrick Rahmen’s side are propping up the Swiss top-flight after six rounds of action this season, with three draws and three losses to show for their efforts thus far.
How the bookies view it: Swiss bliss for Villa
Despite winning two of their three home games in last season’s Champions League, Young Boys are big outsiders here at 4/1 (Bet 365) while the draw is an unfancied 16/5 (William Hill).
Aston Villa are odds-on 4/6 favourites on Bet 365 to mark their return to the Champions League with a victory.
Head to head: A first-ever battle in Bern
Tuesday’s evening’s encounter will represent the first-ever meeting between the two sides.
Young Boys came up English opposition in last season’s Champions League, losing both home and away to Pep Guardiola's star-studded Man City
Players to watch: Ollie out for more goals
Ollie Watkins ended his eight-game Premier League scoring drought on Saturday with a brace against Everton. Expect to see the Aston Villa attacker at the head of the anytime goalscorer market once prices have been released by the bookies.
Young Boys midfielder Sandro Lauper has been carded three times in 10 appearances across all competitions this season, making him an appealing option for a card here at 3/1 on Bet 365.
Predicted line-ups
Young Boys will be unable to call upon injured duo Facinet Conte and Saidy Janko.
Both Leon Bailey and Matty Cash will miss out for Aston Villa, while both Boubacar Kamara and Tyrone Mings are unlikely to make their returns from injury this midweek.
Young Boys: Keller; Blum, Camara, Zoukrou, Hadjam; Lauper, Niasse; Monteiro, Ugrinic, Colley; Ganvoula
Aston Villa: Martinez; Bogarde, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Rmasey; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins
Anything else catch the eye?
Backing Aston Villa to score twice alongside each team to receive a card will bring about a backable 4/5 Bet Builder on Bet 365.
Emery’s side have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their four Premier League outings this season, so they may have to bag a couple of goals if they are to bank maximum points in Bern.
What's more, Villa have struck twice in each of their victories this season, with both teams going into the book along the way, making the above-mentioned selection worthy of support in Switzerland on Tuesday evening.
This UEFA Champions League match between Young Boys and Aston Villa will be played on Sep 17, 2024 and kick off at 17:45. Check below for our tipsters best Young Boys vs Aston Villa prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
