Aston Villa face a tricky league-phase test against Fenerbahce in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League.
Victory would lift Villa into the top eight in the table, whilst Fenerbahce can realistically move into the knockout play-off seeded positions with a win but the top eight is achievable if results elsewhere swing in their favour.
Team News
Leon Goretzka is available for Villa following his recovery from a knee injury which has prevented him from making his club debut so far this season.
Matteo Ruggeri however is ruled out after he suffered a hamstring injury during their 2-2 Premier League draw against Brentford.
George Hemmings (knee), Modu Cisse (groin/hip), Brian Madjo, Ian Maatsen (both ankle) and Amadou Onana (ACL) remain sidelined.
Fenerbahce could be without Romelu Lukaku due to a knock suffered in their 3-0 win at Rizespor in Turkish Super Lig.
Amara Diouf (muscle) is a doubt but Mert Muldur (knee) and Jayden Oosterwolde (Achilles) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Villa host Fenerbahce at Villa Park on Wednesday 14 October at 8pm BST, live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.
Stat Attack
- This is Villa’s first Champions League meeting against Fenerbahce, but they have won all three previous meetings across all UEFA competitions.
- Fenerbahce lost 4-0 in their only previous visit to Villa in September 1977 in the first leg of their first-round tie in that season’s competition.
- Villa have lost just one of seven previous meetings against Turkish opposition in all UEFA competitions (W5, D1, L1).
- Fenerbahce have won just one of their seven previous trips to English opposition in all UEFA competitions this century (W1, D1, L5).
Prediction
Currently on an up-turn in form and unbeaten in their last three matches, Villa should come into this game with belief after they came from behind to lead against Brentford yet they conceded just two minutes after their second goal, which shows how fragile their defence still is.
Fenerbahce meanwhile are a robustly solid team capable of goals and boasts Marco Asensio who spent time at Villa in the second half of the 2024-25 season, so I expect them to certainly put Villa under serious pressure defensively and cause some issues with their attacking threats.
Quite frankly, I am expecting this to be a tough battle but given Fenerbahce’s poor form on English soil this century, I fancy Villa to snatch the win.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2-1 Fenerbahce