Europa League winners Aston Villa have had to endure a difficult summer of departures, but the shock of those losses and an indifferent start to the campaign are beginning to disappear in the rear-view mirror as they seem a lot more settled going into their second UEFA Champions League game against Fenerbahçe.
They claimed their first victory at the fifth attempt when they beat Club Brugge KV 3-2 in Belgium, and a cup win over Coventry City along with a Premier League success at Tottenham Hotspur have steadied the ship.
Aston Villa are now looking to kick on against Fenerbahçe, who have been in strong form domestically and earned a commendable 1-1 draw with Serie A powerhouses Roma in their opener.
Aston Villa v Fenerbahçe SK Tips Summary
Best Bet - Aston Villa to win & both teams to score @ 2/1
Alternative Bet - Nicolas Jackson to score at any time @ 6/5
Bet Builder - Over two goals, Johan Manzambi to have a shot on target & Milan Skriniar to be booked @ 9/1
Aston Villa v Fenerbahçe SK Prediction
Best Bet: Aston Villa to win & both teams to score @ 2/1
Aston Villa have seen plenty of attacking talent leave the club but, even without Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, they made a winning start to their UEFA Champions League campaign against Club Brugge.
That victory in Belgium went a long way towards lifting the gloom at Villa Park and, following an EFL Cup win over Coventry and a first Premier League success over Tottenham, they look to be back in the game.
They face a Fenerbahçe side who are buzzing after scoring 11 goals in their last two matches, including an 8-0 win over Eyupspor, but this is a much tougher prospect for the Super Lig outfit, for whom scoring a goal could be the most they manage to achieve on Wednesday.
Alternative Bet: Nicolas Jackson to score at any time @ 6/5
Nicolas Jackson spent last season on loan at FC Bayern Munchen from Chelsea, but he looks more settled having reunited with his former Villarreal manager Unai Emery and Aston Villa fans are beginning to see the best of the Senegal striker.
Jackson opened his Villa account in the victory over Club Brugge and he has kicked on since, scoring in his last two games against Tottenham and Brentford as well as when he was on international duty.
His confidence should be sky high for this clash so another goal could well be on the cards.
Aston Villa v Fenerbahçe SK Bet Builder Tip
Over two goals
Johan Manzambi to have a shot on target
Milan Skriniar to be booked
Pays 9/1
Fenerbahçe were involved in a 1-1 draw in their opening league-stage clash of this season's UEFA Champions League and their qualifiers in the competition were also cagey, but this could be the match that breaks the trend.
Villa’s last five games have featured at least three goals and Fener have scored 11 goals in their last two Super Lig outings. It is hard to imagine that under 2.5 goals will prove to be a winning bet in this one, so go the other way.
Johan Manzambi has been given his opportunity for Villa in the last couple of games and he has made a particularly lively start since joining the club from Freiburg, who were beaten by the Midlanders in last season's Europa League final.
He has had a shot on target in his last two appearances against Tottenham and Brentford and could do so again, particularly as he had a total of 11 goal efforts in those matches.
Meanwhile, Fenerbahçe skipper Milan Skriniar picked up four yellow cards in last season's Europa League campaign and, after three domestic bookings this term, could be vulnerable to another caution.
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Key Match Stats
Fenerbahçe SK have scored 11 goals in their last two matches
Aston Villa have lost just one of their last six games
Unai Emery’s side have scored 12 goals in their last five outings
Both teams have scored in each of Villa’s last five matches
Fenerbahçe have lost just one of their last nine games
Six of the Turkish side's seven UEFA Champions League games this season have featured fewer than three goals
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
