They have just started their Champions League journey with a success in Switzerland, Aston Villa return to the Premier League on Saturday and host local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers to Villa Park.

While Villa cruised to victory in Europe, Wolves were eliminated from the EFL Cup during the week, continuing their miserable start to the season.

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After four decades of waiting, Aston Villa returned to the top of Europe’s table on Tuesday, travelling to Bern for a Champions League match against Swiss Super League champions Young Boys, where they claimed maximum points.

After getting used to the artificial turf at the Wankdorf Stadium, the goals in the first half were scored by Youri Tielemans And Jacob Ramsey Then the Villans took the lead and two more shots were disallowed by the VAR for handball before Amadou Onana sealed the deal with an excellent 30-yard shot.

This made it three wins in a row for Unai EmeryThe team of ‘s, which had won against Everton three days earlier, with star striker Ollie Watkins scored two equalisers before coming on as a super-sub John Duran scored a spectacular winning goal.

Villa have won three of their four Premier League games so far, losing to likely title contenders Arsenal. Only three times before have the Birmingham club managed to win four of their first five matches.

Emery will no doubt have this feat in his sights, given his busy schedule: next week his side face Wycombe Wanderers in the EFL Cup, just before another clash with Bayern Munich, another 1982 European Cup finalist.

However, he is well aware of Villa’s shortcomings at Villa Park since the end of 2023. Between March last year and Christmas they conceded just eight goals in 16 Premier League home games; since then they have conceded 26 in 12 games – and at least two in each of the last four.

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While Wolves were beaten 2-0 in the teams’ last league meeting, they had actually only lost one of their last five league games at Villa Park before this weekend’s short trip to the West Midlands.

There are hardly any other good signs for Gary O’Neil and Co. will have to hold on tight, as they have won just one of their last 14 Premier League games since the end of last season and lost no fewer than ten times.

This is the worst run for the Wolverhampton club in over two years. Since the beginning of March they have also picked up fewer points (nine) than any other current top team.

With just one point this season, they are now in 18th place in the table – only promoted team Southampton and crisis-hit club Everton are behind them.

Wolves have conceded three goals from outside the box in the league so far, having conceded two long-range shots in last week’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle United, so they will be wary of shots from the likes of Tielemans and Duran.

On Wednesday, O’Neil was not a midweek substitute as his team were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Brighton & Hove Albion. With goals from Gonçalo Guedes And Tommy Doyle not enough to avoid defeat at the Amex, he will be desperate to turn things around on Saturday.

Aston Villa Premier League form:

Aston Villa form (all competitions):

Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League form:

Wolverhampton Wanderers Form (All Competitions):

Team News

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Leon Bailey was not risked on Young Boys’ artificial turf during the week, but this weekend the Jamaican winger from Aston Villa could be there – most likely from the bench.

Unai Emery has suggested Ollie Watkins should be fit enough to play, although the England striker was seen with ice on his ankle after being substituted in Switzerland.

Watkins has been involved in seven goals in his last six home games, but Jhon Duran is a capable substitute when needed. The latter has scored the winner in each of Villa’s league victories this season – all three as a substitute – and on Tuesday had a spectacular strike disallowed by VAR: in the entire history of the Premier League, no one has ever scored four winning goals from the bench in a season.

Once again long-term absentees Boubacar Kamara And Tyrone Mings – who are both back in full training – join Matty Cash And Jaden Philogene on the sidelines.

Meanwhile, Wolves made around 10 changes to their team for Wednesday’s EFL Cup match. Joao Gomes retained by the team that played against Newcastle.

Gary O’Neil will now recall his most important men, with Matheus Cunha And Jorgen Strand Larsen will join forces at the top, while Sam Johnstone should replace José Sa in the goal.

Toti Gomeswho scored Wolves’ winning goal against Villa last year, could recover from a thigh strain; however, Rayan Ait-Nouri might miss something. Sasa Kalajdzic, Enso Gonzalez And Boubacar Traore are all unavailable.

Possible starting eleven for Aston Villa:
Martinez; Nedeljkovic, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; McGinn, Ramsey, Rogers; Watkins

Possible starting lineup for Wolverhampton Wanderers:
Johnstone; Semedo, Mosquera, Dawson, Toti; Bellegarde, J. Gomes, Lemina, R. Gomes; Cunha; Larsen

We think: Aston Villa 2-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Goals are guaranteed, as Aston Villa are particularly strong on home soil and Wolves are constantly conceding goals. Buoyed by their big win last time out, Villa can ride the wave and beat their struggling local rivals.

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