Aston Villa host Fenerbahce at Villa Park on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, in the second matchday of the league phase of the UEFA Champions League, with Nicolas Jackson among the players expected to attract most attention.
The Senegal international is set to lead the Aston Villa attack in a likely starting XI that also includes fellow African player Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Fenerbahce’s Nene Dorgeles, an international with Mali, is another player who could draw focus, although he is not expected to start.
Unai Emery is set to select Zion Suzuki in goal. Wan-Bissaka could line up at right-back, with Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings and Matteo Ruggeri completing the defence.
Boubacar Kamara and Joao Gomes are expected to form the midfield partnership. John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Johan Manzambi could play behind Jackson, who will be relied upon to provide Aston Villa’s main attacking threat.
Ibrahim Mbaye, the young Senegal international, is also part of the Aston Villa squad. However, he is expected to begin the match among the substitutes.
For Fenerbahce, Nene Dorgeles is considered an attacking option but does not feature in the predicted starting line-up. Amara Diouf is also in contention for the match, although his chances of making an appearance are described as very limited.
The final teams will only be confirmed when the official team sheets are released. Both managers can still change their selections according to their last technical decisions and the players’ physical condition.
Predicted line-ups
Aston Villa: Suzuki, Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Mings, Ruggeri, Kamara, Joao Gomes, McGinn, Buendia, Manzambi, Jackson.
Fenerbahce: Ederson, Semedo, Skriniar, Ake, Brown, Kante, Guendouzi, Kahveci, Greenwood, Akturkoglu, Muriqi.