Aston Villa vs Fenerbahce: Onana and Maatsen Out as Villa Target Fourth Straight Win Over Turkish Visitors
by Geoffrey Ejiga | by Geoffrey Ejiga
Villa Have Never Lost to Fenerbahce
Before their Champions League clash tonight, Aston Villa have played Fenerbahce three times in European competition and won on each occasion, scoring seven goals without conceding. The clubs first met in the 1977-78 UEFA Cup first round.
Villa won 4-0 at home in the first leg, with Andy Gray, John Deehan and Brian Little all scoring, before completing a 6-0 aggregate victory with a 2-0 away win in Istanbul.
The only other competitive meeting came in the 2025-26 Europa League league phase, when Villa won 1-0 at Fenerbahce in January. Wednesday's match is only the second competitive fixture between the sides at Villa Park, after the 4-0 win 49 years ago.
The clash tonight, and you can check out our expert’s Aston Villa vs Fenerbahce prediction for the best picks.
Sixteenth in the League But Already Off the Mark in Europe
Villa beat Club Brugge 3-2 away on Champions League Matchday 1, with John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Nicolas Jackson all scoring.
However, their Premier League form has been poor. Three defeats in four league matches, including a 4-0 loss at Brighton on the opening day, left them near the bottom of the table early in the season.
A 3-2 win at Tottenham was their only league victory so far, and a 2-2 draw with Brentford last weekend left them 16th on five points from six matches.
In truth, the squad reshaping over the summar has left a mark:
- Morgan Rogers left for Chelsea in a British record deal worth £117 million,
- Ollie Watkins moved to Saudi Arabia, and
- Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United.
Emery spent heavily in response, paying a club record £65 million for Chelsea striker Jackson and £59.5 million for Freiburg forward Johan Manzambi, while Joao Gomes arrived from Wolves for £34 million.
Fenerbahce’s Contrast
Fenerbahce have had no such problems domestically. Kartal's side are fourth in the Super Lig on 13 points from seven matches and are the top scorers in the Turkish top flight with 19 goals.
An 8-0 home win over Eyupspor on September 20 and a 3-0 victory at Rizespor last weekend, where Marco Asensio, Irfan Kahveci and Oguz Aydin scored, show the threat they carry in attack.
Vedat Muriqi and Mason Greenwood have scored 13 goals between them in all competitions this season.
They drew 1-1 with Roma at home on Matchday 1, with Archie Brown equalizing after Bryan Cristante had given the visitors the lead. Fenerbahce came through three qualifying rounds to reach the league phase, beating Gornik Zabrze, Sturm Graz and Lyon along the way without losing a match.
Onana's Season Over as Asensio Returns to Villa Park
Villa will be without several players for the visit of Fenerbahce:
- Amadou Onana has suffered a knee injury that will keep him out until next summer.
- Ian Maatsen is sidelined with an ankle problem until late November.
- Leon Goretzka and Modou Cisse are both expected to return later this month but are not available on Wednesday.
- And Matteo Ruggeri is a doubt after picking up a hamstring injury in the Brentford draw.
Fenerbahce are missing Jayden Oosterwolde with an Achilles injury and Mert Muldur with a knee problem. But Matteo Guendouzi, who was a doubt through suspension, has been cleared to play.
One of the highlights of the evening will be the return of Asensio to Villa Park. The Spain international spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Villa from Paris Saint-Germain.
Ascensio scored eight goals, before joining Fenerbahce in the summer of 2025.
And the former Real Madrid star scored in Fenerbahce's 3-0 win at Rizespor on Saturday.
Kartal was appointed for a fourth spell as Fenerbahce head coach in June, replacing Domenico Tedesco, who was sacked after a 3-0 derby defeat to Galatasaray in April. His assistant is former Liverpool and Fenerbahce forward Dirk Kuyt.
