Aston Villa XI vs Club Brugge – Predicted lineup and team news

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The Football Faithful

·8 September 2026

Aston Villa XI vs Club Brugge – Predicted lineup and team news

Aston Villa go in search of a first win of the season when they open their Champions League campaign at Club Brugge on Tuesday.

Unai Emery’s rebuilt squad have collected just one point from three Premier League matches so far, making this trip to Belgium an early opportunity to find some momentum.

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Villa have won two of their three previous meetings with Brugge, though those results came under a very different-looking squad during the 2024-25 campaign.

Aston Villa team news

Brian Madjo remains sidelined with an ankle injury and is not expected back before the September international break, with a possible return date of 19 September against Tottenham Hotspur. Amadou Onana continues his recovery from the anterior cruciate ligament injury he suffered at the World Cup and has no fixed return date.

Johan Manzambi, a major doubt after a World Cup knee problem, could instead be targeting Villa’s next two fixtures, against Nottingham Forest or Tottenham, for his comeback. With both Madjo and Manzambi unavailable, Emery’s attacking options remain thin beyond Nicolas Jackson and Ibrahim Mbaye.

Joao Gomes, though still serving out a domestic suspension, is available for his Champions League debut in Belgium. Zion Suzuki and club-record signing Nicolas Jackson are both expected to start, while Leon Goretzka could make his first Villa appearance from the bench having yet to feature since his free transfer.

Emery also has calls to make in defence, with Matty Cash and Ian Maatsen currently favoured at full-back ahead of Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Matteo Ruggeri, and Tyrone Mings competing with Pau Torres for a starting berth alongside Victor Lindelöf.