Aston Villa will look to kick-start their UEFA Champions League campaign on a high note when they clash Swiss side BSC Young Boys at Wankdorf Stadium on Tuesday.
The Lions are set to make their long-awaited return to Europe’s top tier this week, marking their first appearance since their 1983 run to the European Cup quarter-finals, just a year after lifting the trophy with a famous 1-0 triumph over Bayern Munich in Rotterdam.
Back among Europe’s elite after securing a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, the West Midlands club kicks off their campaign with an away fixture in Switzerland against Young Boys.
Under Unai Emery, Villa has hit the ground running this season, picking up three wins from their first four matches. Their latest victory came dramatically, overturning a two-goal deficit to beat Everton on Saturday, leaving them fifth in the league, separated from the top four only by goal difference.
Young Boys, on the other hand, have had a mixed season, with their recent form in the Swiss Cup contrasting with their underwhelming league performance. A 4-2 win over Vevey in the cup showcased their attacking prowess, but their league struggles have raised questions about their ability to compete at the highest level.
The Sporting News looks at the key details ahead of this game, including how to watch the match, kickoff times and the latest lineup news.
Young Boys vs. Aston Villa live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch this Champions League match in the U.S.:
TV channel: —
Live stream: Paramount+, CBS Sports Golazo, ViX
This game is not available for live TV broadcast. Streaming options are available on CBS Sports Golazo, ViX is Spanish and Paramount+, which is currently offering a 7-day FREE trial.
For a limited time, new subscribers can enjoy Paramount+ starting at $2.50 per month for 12 months! Billed annually. Stream the NFL on CBS, Champions League soccer and more. Redeem now!
What time does Young Boys vs. Aston Villa kick off?
This Champions League clash takes place at the Stadion Wankdorf in Bern, Switzerland and kicks off on Tuesday, September 17 at 6:45 p.m. local time.
Here's how that time translates across the U.S.:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| Eastern Time | Tue, Sep. 17 | 12:45 p.m. |
| Central Time | Tue, Sep. 17 | 11:45 a.m. |
| Mountain Time | Tue, Sep. 17 | 10:45 a.m. |
| Pacific Time | Tue, Sep. 17 | 9:45 a.m. |
Young Boys vs. Aston Villa predicted lineups, team news
Aston Villa will be missing some key players such as Leon Bailey, Matty Cash, and Boubacar Kamara for their Champions League opener. Backup goalkeeper Robin Olsen is also on the sidelines.
Ollie Watkins should retain his spot in the starting lineup after his excellent performance against Everton, with Jhon Duran to come off the bench in the second half.
Aston Villa predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Martinez (GK) — Nedeljkovic, Konsa, Torres, Digne — Onana, Barkley — McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers — Watkins.
Injured: Bailey, Cash, Kamara, Olsen
Suspended: None
Young Boys come into this match with an injury crisis. Saidy Janko, Meschack Elia, Abdu Conte, Patric Pfeiffer, Lukasz Lakomy, and Sadin Crnovrsanin are all on the sidelines.
Silvere Ganvoula, who has scored three of the team's seven league goals so far, will spearhead the attack.
Young Boys predicted XI (4-2-3-1, right to left): Von Ballmoos (GK) — Blum, Camara, Zoukrou, Hadjam — Niasse, Lauper — Monteiro, Ugric, Colley — Ganvoula.
Injured: Janko, Elia, Conte, Pfeiffer, Lakomy, Crnovrsanin
Suspended: None
Young Boys vs. Aston Villa Prediction
Going into the group stage, Tuesday’s clash initially appeared to be a showdown of equals. However, with Young Boys struggling to find form in the Swiss Super League, they might not be up to the challenge against Aston Villa this midweek.
The Villans have their own issues, particularly in defense, where they’ve been less than convincing this season. That said, Young Boys should have enough chances to test Villa in the final third. Nevertheless, the visitors boast enough firepower to grind out a narrow win. The prediction? A hard-fought 2-1 victory for Unai Emery and his men.
- Prediction: Young Boys 1-2 Aston Villa
Champions League fixture schedule this week
Wednesday, September 18
- BSC Young Boys vs. Aston Villa FC
- Juventus vs. PSV Eindhoven
- AC Milan vs. Liverpool FC
- FC Bayern München vs. GNK Dinamo
- Real Madrid C.F. vs. VfB Stuttgart
- Sporting Clube de Portugal vs. LOSC Lille
Thursday, September 19
- AC Sparta Praha vs. FC Salzburg
- Bologna FC 1909 vs. FC Shakhtar Donetsk
- Celtic FC vs. ŠK Slovan Bratislava
- Club Brugge KV vs. Borussia Dortmund
- Manchester City vs. FC Internazionale Milano
- Paris Saint-Germain vs. Girona FC
Friday, September 20
- Feyenoord vs. Bayer 04 Leverkusen
- FK Crvena Zvezda vs. SL Benfica
- AS Monaco vs. FC Barcelona
- Atalanta BC vs. Arsenal FC
- Atlético de Madrid vs. RB Leipzig
- Stade Brestois 29 vs. SK Sturm Graz
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >
