Emery reveals reason for surprising Aston Villa changes against Bologna in MD1

epa11744382 Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery reacts during the UEFA Champions League match between Aston Villa and Juventus in Birmingham, Great Britain, 27 November 2024. EPA-EFE/ADAM VAUGHAN

Unai Emery reveals why Argentina hero Emiliano Martinez is not playing for Aston Villa against Bologna in the Europa League among big changes.

It kicks off at Villa Park at 20.00 UK time (19.00 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

There were quite a few surprises in the starting XI for both teams, the biggest perhaps being that Argentina’s World Cup winning goalkeeper Dibu Martinez was not even on the bench.

“He is injured,” Emery confirmed to TNT Sports.

“It’s a small injury, but he is not available for today.”

Emery makes big changes to Aston Villa against Bologna

In all, he has made four changes from the side that was held to a draw by 10-man Sunderland at the weekend in the Premier League.

Big names like Jadon Sancho, Ollie Watkins and Elliott Harvey are all left on the bench, with Donyell Malen starting as a False 9.

“We have to tactically get better, and we need every player”

Unai Emery speaks on Aston Villa’s start to the season ahead of their first Europa League match 🤝

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“It’s important for the players to show they wish to use their qualities. Of course, we are watching all of them. We must try to tactically get better, and we need every player,” added the coach.

“We are playing at home, and usually we were feeling so strong here. Hopefully we can show it again, of course we need a step forward and try to do our best.”

Bologna already played here last season in the Champions League and were beaten 2-0 by Aston Villa, so can it be the right opportunity for Emery to get his first win of this term?

“It will always be very, very difficult. We were playing two years ago in the Conference League, last year in the Champions League. Every match we played, against PSG, Bologna, Juventus, all very difficult.

“When I arrived, it was our dream to play in Europe, it is our third year in a row in Europe, we are so happy, but we have to be very focused to get the win,” concluded Emery.