Fixtures
- Aston Villa Vs. Juventus – Wed, Nov 27th 2024, 20:00
Pau Torres is looking forward to another “special” UEFA Champions League night at Villa Park on Wednesday but knows Aston Villa face a tough test against Juventus.
Unai Emery’s side are back in action in Europe’s elite club competition as they welcome the Italian giants to B6.
The Villans will be looking to continue their perfect start on home soil having triumphed over Bayern Munich and Bologna, keeping two clean sheets in the process.
It promises to be another memorable occasion under the lights, and asked what it’s like to play in Champions League nights at Villa Park, Torres said: “It’s special for us and as well for the supporters.
“They were waiting many, many years to feel this competition again.
“We started really well, giving them happy nights here at Villa Park.
“We want to enjoy with them, give them a victory after a long time.
“We are focused on that and we want to enjoy it with them.”
Villa head into matchday five on nine points from their opening four matches.
Victory away at BSC Young Boys preceded wins over Bayern and Bologna, before Torres and co suffered a 1-0 defeat against Club Brugge in Belgium last time out.
“We are in a good way in the Champions League this season,” added the centre-back.
“We started really well, of course we lost a good opportunity against Club Brugge.
“At home we’re feeling comfortable, we know, like Bayern Munich, Juventus as well are favourites for tomorrow.
“But we know if we are at our highest level, we focus 100%, we can beat them.
“So, we’re trying to get that win tomorrow.”
Juventus travel to England on seven points from their opening four matches in the competition, following up wins over PSV Eindhoven and RB Leipzig with defeat to Stuttgart and a draw at LOSC Lille earlier this month.
Wednesday night will only be the third meeting between the two clubs, with Juventus having triumphed in both legs of the 1982/83 European Cup quarter-finals.
The Bianconeri are currently sixth in Serie A, four points off top spot, having finished third in Italy’s top flight last season.
But Juventus look set to be without Douglas Luiz after the former Villa midfielder, who made a summer switch to Turin, was not named in their travelling squad.
Torres said: “Juventus is always a special team, an historic team playing in Europe every season, usually winning titles each season.
“Douglas Luiz is playing there, I know he now is in a difficult moment, but he’s a really good player.
“I spoke a lot with him about the club, about how he is feeling now there.
“But for us, they are a winning team with a winning mentality.
“We know tomorrow will be a difficult game and, as I said before, they are favourites at the beginning, but we want to enjoy with our supporters and we will try to beat them.”
