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.
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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.
