Aston Villa team news: Two recalled for Barcelona showdown

Unai Emery has handed two players recalls for Villa’s big Champions League clash with Barcelona.

Emi Buendia and Joao Gomes both return to the line-up at the Nou Camp after being on the bench for Saturday’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Fulham.

Alysson and Leon Goretzka come out of the side, with both among the substitutes.

Villa are looking to spring a surprise in their first clash with the Catalan giants since the 1983 European Super Cup.

Emery’s men are top of the group phase table with a perfect record of three wins from three matches.

Yet Barcelona represent comfortably their toughest assignment of the competition so far.

On a personal level, Emery is looking to win for just the second time in his career at the Nou Camp.

The stadium is the scene of his worst ever defeat, a 6-5 aggregate Champions League loss with Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 when the home side scored three times after the 87th minute.

Villa (4-2-3-1): Suzuki, Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen, Gomes, Kamara, McGinn, Manzambi, Buendia, Jackson Subs: Harwood-Bellis, Mings, Barkley, Garnacho, Abraham, Mbaye, Goretzka, Alysson, Hemmings, Wright (gk), Bizot (gk).