Aston Villa Host Fenerbahce at Villa Park in Champions League Round 2

Villa Park Prepares for Champions League European Night

Aston Villa return to European action at Villa Park Stadium on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 19:00 UTC as they take on Turkish giants Fenerbahce in Round 2 of the UEFA Champions League season. Manager Unai Emery highlighted the importance of home advantage heading into the contest, referring to Villa Park as a special place and a fortress for his squad.

Aston Villa enter the fixture sitting 11th in the Champions League standings after securing a victory in their opening match, scoring three goals and conceding two. Fenerbahce sit 24th in the table following a 1-1 draw against Roma on matchday one, their opening fixture in the main stage of the competition.

Team Form and Head-to-Head History

Aston Villa come into Wednesday's encounter on a strong run of form, having recorded four wins and a draw in their last six matches across all competitions. Their most recent outing was a 2-2 Premier League draw against Brentford, preceded by a 3-1 friendly victory over Sevilla, a 3-2 league win against Tottenham Hotspur, and a 3-1 EFL Cup win over Coventry City.

Fenerbahce, managed by Ismail Kartal, travel to Birmingham following back-to-back dominant Super Lig victories—a 3-0 win against Rizespor and an 8-0 triumph over Eyupspor. The Yellow Canaries have kept three consecutive clean sheets in all competitions, though they remain winless in their last eight matches in the Champions League proper.

Historically, Aston Villa hold a flawless head-to-head record against Fenerbahce, winning all three prior meetings without conceding a single goal. The most recent clash took place in January 2026 during the UEFA Europa League round 7, where Villa claimed a 1-0 away victory in Istanbul.

Team News and Key Selection Decisions

Unai Emery faces a defensive conundrum at left-back. Matteo Ruggeri suffered a hamstring injury during the first half against Brentford and is expected to be sidelined for more than a month. With Ian Maatsen still recovering from an ankle injury, Villa are temporarily left without a recognised left-back. Midfielder George Hemmings is also ruled out due to small back pain, while Amadou Onana remains unavailable.

However, Villa receive a major boost as midfielder Leon Goretzka is set to feature in the matchday squad for the first time since joining as a free agent, having recovered from a knee injury. Villa's line-up is expected to feature Zion Suzuki in goal, supported by defenders Victor Nilsson Lindeloef, Pau Torres, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, alongside key attackers Nicolas Jackson, John McGinn, and Emiliano Buendia.

For Fenerbahce, defender Jayden Oosterwolde is ruled out through injury, while midfielder Matteo Guendouzi serves a suspension. The Turkish side's expected lineup includes goalkeeper Ederson Moraes, central defender Milan Skriniar, and veteran midfielder N'Golo Kante, alongside attack-minded threats Mason Greenwood, Muhammed Akturkoglu, and Vedat Muriqi.