Harry Kane will cause Aston Villa big problems if he is fit for Bayern Munich (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
How good are Aston Villa? We’ll find out on Wednesday night when they entertain Bundesliga kingpins Bayern Munich in a repeat of the 1982 European Cup final in Rotterdam.
The Germans were hot favourites to win the decider back then, even before Villa suffered a setback in the ninth minute when goalkeeper Jimmy Rimmer had to leave the pitch after being unable to continue with a neck injury suffered in training.
Rimmer was replaced by Nigel Spink, who lived the sporting dream and kept a clean sheet as gnarly old forward Peter Withe scored the only goal of the game to seal a remarkable victory.
Villa were relegated from the English top flight three years later and are only now back on Europe’s top table after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season. They have started the current campaign well but blew the chance to go second behind Liverpool with the same points but with an inferior goal difference after only drawing with Ipswich at Portman Road on Sunday.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery will have to be at his managerial his best against Bayern Munich (Picture: AFP via Getty Images)
There’s no doubt that Unai Emery is a brilliant manager – just the sort that Manchester United need at the helm although that’s another conversation for another time – but it isn’t the first time his side have failed to deliver the goods under pressure as they missed the chance to go top on several occasions last season.
Their only defeat this term was a 2-0 reversal at home to Arsenal but they trailed to both Everton and Wolves before taking maximum points and won’t be let off the hook by Bayern.
They miss John McGinn’s tenacity in midfield and then there’s the question of how they will deal with Harry Kane.
The England captain has scored ten goals in seven appearances in all competitions this season and if he is fit after limping out of Saturday’s draw with Bayer Leverkusen with an ankle injury he will be bidding to extend his record of five goals at Villa Park for Spurs.
Former Arsenal and West Brom forward Serge Gnabry is also a threat, having scored eight goals in nine games against English opposition in this competition.
Bayern have won 23 of 48 European Cup and Champions League matches against Premier League clubs and are 4/5 to win with Coral while Kane is 7/2 with Paddy Power and Betfair to score the first goal and 20/21 to score at any time with bet365.
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Gnabry is 14/5 with BetUK to join him on the scoreboard while Jhon Duran is 10/3 with bet365 to score for Villa.
A 2-1 Bayern win is 15/2 with William Hill, bet365 and BoyleSports.
• Liverpool have won seven of their eight matches so far this season and should sweep aside the challenge of Bologna at Anfield. Like the Reds, the Serie A side have lost just once this term but they have only one win to their credit along with five draws from their seven games. They have only kept one clean sheet while Arne Slot’s team have conceded in four of their last five so back Liverpool to win and both teams to score at 15/8 with Betway and BoyleSports. Cody Gakpo is 19/10 with BetUK and Unibet to find the net and a 3-1 home win is 11/1 with William Hill.
• The beer should be flowing in Steel City on Wednesday night after Sheffield United beat Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday win at Bristol City. Stick them in a 5/1 double with William Hill.