5️⃣ things to look out for in Wednesday's Champions League action | OneFootball

After the thrills of Tuesday, the Champions League is back for more tonight.

Here are the five biggest things to look out for from Wednesday’s action.

⚔️ Match of the Day

It’s the night Aston Villa have been waiting for, as they play their first home game in the Champions League/European Cup in over 41 years. And they couldn’t have more fitting opponents.

Villa’s only ever other clash with Bayern Munich came in the 1982 European Cup final, when they won the famous trophy at the first time of asking.

The fortunes of the two clubs since have been a bit of a contrast, but they renew rivalries with more than enough talking points, namely the fitness of Harry Kane, who went off in Bayern’s 1-1 draw with Leverkusen at the weekend with an apparent ankle injury.

Vincent Kompany will be hoping his star man is fit, and while a showdown with Ollie Watkins is quite the prospect, Villa fans will hope the England captain is not available given his record against them. In his time with Spurs, Kane scored eight times against the Villans, including five at Villa Park.

Bayern’s record against English opposition is equally impressive, with just one loss in their last 10 games. On the flip side though, Unai Emery will be looking to beat the German giants with a third side, having previously emerged victorious with both PSG and Villarreal.

It promises to be a night to remember, even more so if Villa repeat their heroics of ’82.

🔎 Team to Watch

Italian football has often been stereotyped as more defensive, given it is the birthplace of Catenaccio and the brilliant backlines of years gone by.

It appears Juventus are rewinding the clock if their start to the season is anything to go by. The Old Lady have not conceded a single goal in their first six Serie A games – a record in the three-point era (post 1994/95).

However, that has come with three goalless draws, as new boss Thiago Motta looks to find the correct balance in his side.

He did in their first Champions League outing, convincingly seeing off PSV with a 3-1 win, a game which saw new no.10 Kenan Yıldız become the club’s youngest ever scorer in the competition, fittingly ahead of Alessandro Del Piero.

They face a tougher task in gameweek two, away to RB Leipzig, in a match that should tell us more about their credentials.

🔥 Player to Watch

One of the main reasons Juve’s trip to eastern Germany is intriguing is the presence of Benjamin Šeško in the Leipzig lineup.

The Slovenian striker turned down multiple advances from some of Europe’s biggest clubs over the summer to continue his development with Marco Rose’s side, and it appears to have been a good decision.

Šeško has four goals and three assists in seven games so far this season, with one of his strikes coming in their last minute 2-1 loss to Atlético de Madrid in their first Champions League game.

He will be looking to add to his tally, and boost his ever-growing reputation, against one of European football’s aristocrats.

👀 Potential upset

It is quite an evenly balanced night of action, with few true upsets possible. Given they’ve won a ridiculous 15 Champions League titles, and not lost in their last 14 games, any result for Lille against Real Madrid can be considered one.

And they might just have a chance.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men are clearly the favourites for the game, but they are not without their injury troubles. Thibaut Courtois is out of the game with a hip injury, while Kylian Mbappé will probably not start despite his rapid quick recovery.

Lille will be without England man Angel Gomes due to suspension, but have won seven of their last eight games at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Europe.

Madrid struggled against Stuttgart for large parts, and usually grow into the competition. Could Lille spring a surprise?

📊 Fascinating stat

Feyenoord will be looking to end a run of eight consecutive Champions League away losses in Girona.

It is a run which stretches back to September 2002, when they defeated an Alan Shearer-captained Newcastle United 1-0 at St. James’ Park.