Preview: Legia Warsaw vs. Aston Villa - prediction, team news, lineups

These two teams are joined by AZ Alkmaar and Zrinjski Mostar in Group E, leaving the pressure on both sides to post a winning start in Poland.

Match preview

When the Europa Conference League was created, the perception was that some teams would see it as a hindrance, but the success enjoyed by Roma and West Ham has led to clubs such as Villa seeing it as their route to become European mainstays.

Backed by some impressive additions, Villa are targeting a top-four finish in the Premier League this season, and nine points from five matches with trips to Newcastle United and Liverpool out of the way suggests that they can remain in the hunt for that.

However, Unai Emery - a specialist when it comes to winning European trophies - will be placing a high level of focus on winning this competition, progressing from Group E being the initial target.

Drawing last season's semi-finalists AZ is less than ideal, yet Emery will have total confidence that his players can replicate West Ham's efforts from 2022-23.

Villa thrashed Hibernian by an 8-0 aggregate scoreline in the playoff round, winning the away leg with five strikes without reply, but they shipped eight goals in their defeats at Newcastle and Liverpool.

While Legia was undoubtedly massive underdogs to achieve a result against a side of Villa's quality, that vulnerability will only encourage them ahead of this match.

The Polish side have come through three thrilling qualifying ties to reach this stage, overcoming Ordabasy, Austria Vienna and Midtjylland despite conceding as many as 13 goals.

In each tie, Legia were behind at some stage, and head coach Kosta Runjaic witnessed his team secure their place in the group stage with success in a penalty shootout.

On the domestic scene, the Militarians have been far more consistent, collecting 14 points from six matches, remaining unbeaten and conceding just the three goals.

Nevertheless, Legia welcome a free-scoring Villa to Stadion Wojska Polskiego having kept only one clean sheet in their most recent eight outings in all competitions.

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Aston Villa Europa Conference League form:

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Team News

Emery will almost certainly freshen up his Villa XI for this fixture, already alluding to Youri Tielemans getting game time in this competition.

Clement Lenglet and Alex Moreno could feature in defence, while Leon Bailey and Jhon Duran - after his stunning goal against Crystal Palace at the weekend - will hope to feature in the final third.

Although second-choice goalkeeper Robin Olsen received game time during the playoffs, Emiliano Martinez is expected to start on Thursday.

While Runjaic is not expected to make many changes to his Legia starting lineup, if any, his three substitutions before the hour mark against Piast Gliwice last time out suggests that alternatives are in contention.

Former Tottenham Hotspur youngster Tomas Pekhart - now 34 years of age - has scored eight times this season, while Gil Dias may be considered for a first start since joining on loan from Stuttgart.

Jurgen Celhaka is an option for Legia in central midfield should Runjaic want to introduce fresh legs and a defensive-minded player.

Legia Warsaw possible starting lineup:

Tobiasz; Ribeiro, Jedrzejczyk, Pankov; Wszolek, Elitim, Josue, Slisz, Kun; Muci, Pekhart

Aston Villa possible starting lineup:

Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lenglet, Moreno; Tielemans, Kamara, McGinn; Bailey, Duran, Diaby

We say: Legia Warsaw 1-4 Aston Villa

Given their exploits in the qualifying rounds, Legia will be relishing the chance to test themselves against the tournament favourites. Nevertheless, we cannot look past Villa doing a similar job to what they achieved against Hibs, making a statement in the process.

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