Overview
After winning all two of their opening Europa League games against Bologna and Feyenoord, Aston Villa's impressive run was disappointingly halted. They lost 1-2 at Go Ahead Eagles, despite taking an early lead.
However, coach Unai Emery's team quickly regained their spirit with a 1-0 victory over Manchester City in the Premier League shortly after. However, individual mistakes paid the price for them in the 0-2 loss to Liverpool last weekend. Villa are currently in 11th place in the rankings, but the gap with the second-placed team is only 4 points.
Before the Bournemouth clash, Aston Villa will enter the fourth round of the Europa League against Maccabi Tel Aviv - coinciding with the 3rd anniversary of Unai Emery officially leading the team. After 154 matches in all competitions, the Spanish coach has won 82, drawn 29 and lost 43, achieving a win rate of 53.25%.
Known as a coach with high tactical discipline, Emery called on his players to "take back the structure" and "more sharp" in the attack area, especially with Ollie Watkins. The striker is in declining form, having only achieved an expected goals (xG) of 1.74 after 10 Premier League games this season.
Villa will return to Villa Park in this match, where they have only lost 1 of their last 27 matches in all competitions (won 19, drew 7). The only defeat was a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in August.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is one of seven teams yet to win the Europa League group stage this season, having won just one point in three games, making it 32nd out of 36th.
After a 0-0 draw with PAOK in the opening match in Greece, coach Zarko Lazetic's team had to suffer two consecutive defeats. In which the 0-3 loss to Dinamo Zagreb two weeks ago made the situation even more difficult.
Despite declining performance in the European arena, Maccabi Tel Aviv still maintained impressive form in the domestic league. They have only lost 4 points after 9 opening matches of the Israeli national championship (won 7, drew 2). Maccabi Tel Aviv just defeated Maccabi Bnei Reineh 2-0 last weekend to shorten the gap with leader Hapoel Be'er Sheva to 1 point.
The upcoming match against Aston Villa will be the fifth time Maccabi Tel Aviv have faced an English team. Notably, they have lost all 4 previous times - twice to Chelsea and twice to Stoke City - conceding a total of 13 goals and scoring only 1 honorary goal.
Personnel situation
Aston Villa defender Tyrone Mings is likely to be out for the rest of the year due to a hamstring injury suffered in the loss to Liverpool.
In addition, Emery will also be without the services of Emiliano Buendia ( foot injury), Youri Tielemans ( calf injury), Andres Garcia (unknown cause) and Ross Barkley (unqualified to compete).
On the other side of the front line, captain Dor Peretz - Maccabi Tel Aviv's top scorer this season with 8 goals - could be given the opportunity to start as a striker.
The 30-year-old midfielder can partner Elad Madmon or Sayed Abu Farkhi, depending on whether Lazetic chooses a 3-5-2 formation or continues to maintain a four-man defense.
Expected lineup:
Aston Villa: Martinez, Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen, Onana, Bogarde, Sancho, Elliott, Malen, Watkins.
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Mishpati, Asante, Shlomo, Camara, Revivo, Belic, Sissokho, Davida, Andrade, Varela, Peretz.
The match between Aston Villa and Maccabi Tel Aviv takes place at 3:00 am on November 7 (Vietnam time).
