The 2023/2024 season might have only just ended but Aston Villa have already begun planning for a landmark upcoming campaign that will see the club involved in European competition for the first time since 2010.
How successful Villa are in executing their summer juggling act in the transfer market will ultimately dictate how memorable the club’s return to the continent is.
However, despite the challenging task of preparing Villa’s squad for Champions League competition while adhering to Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), there should be optimism surrounding what Unai Emery’s team can achieve on Europe’s greatest club stage.
If you need further proof of why, then cast your mind back to December 6th, 2023, when Villa hosted Manchester City in the Premier League.
Pep Blown Away
At the time, Villa were still in the title race and hadn’t lost at home. Confidence was justifiably high as Emery had his charges believing that they were good enough to lift their first top-flight league title since 1981.
This sense of self-belief was on display during the 90 minutes that followed against City as Villa comprehensively outplayed the team that were the reigning kings of Europe, and who would eventually go on to win the Premier League for the fourth time in a row.
Of course, it’s not inconceivable that City lose a game of football, but they’re almost never outclassed in the process with the match stats normally revealing a back-to-the-wall effort to hold onto a result.
Against Emery’s Villa on that winter’s night, this was far from the case.
Incredibly, City were only allowed two shots on goal which was the lowest of any of Pep Guardiola’s teams after 535 games as a professional manager. Additionally, Guardiola’s treble winners conceded 22 shots against Villa which was the joint highest of the Spaniard’s managerial career.
Yes, the 1-0 win against City was one of the most complete Villa performances in decades but it was also proof that on their day, Emery’s team can beat Europe’s elite.
While Villa at their barnstorming best is a good barometer to use when trying to gauge how they will fare in next season’s Champions League, another point to consider is that this club has won Europe’s greatest club showpiece before, when they lifted the European Cup in 1982. In essence, Villa possess a deep-rooted European DNA; a factor not to dismiss.
So, for the burning question, can Villa win the Champions League?
The Bookmakers View
At odds of 50/1, the bookmakers’ initial take is that the likelihood is slim. However, if you were to place a bet on Villa in the Champions League outright market then you might consider signing up with a new bookmaker to take advantage of their welcome bonus – thus minimising your risk.
If you’re unfamiliar with the concept, think of it like online casino bonuses as kingcasinobonus presents here, which essentially offer you a free shot at the jackpot in the form of free spins. If you win, all the better but if not, you haven’t lost anything.
Never Say Never
Villa might first have to acclimatise to the demands of Champions League football before they can enjoy a deep run into the competition’s latter stages. Having said that, football is inherently unpredictable and the club have demonstrated their ability to surprise even the toughest opponents.
Only time will tell how Villa’s European return goes but you can be certain that Emery’s team have it in them to make history.
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