Bologna

Bologna winger on loan from Aston Villa Samuel Iling-Junior speaking to TNT Sports: "It is a fixture that I looked at and saw it as an opportunity. It is a big occasion and am excited to play in it.

On life abroad: "Seeing my journey sometimes I look back and say that I am proud. You use everything you learn, the coaching, the different bits of culture to try and take yourself forward."

On former teammate Morgan Rogers: "He is flying. [Coming up against him] you can only pray. I am happy for him though, and long may it continue."

On facing his parent club Villa: "Just see it as an occasion and enjoy the game. I just want to show the fans what I can do and obviously try and get the result for my loan club."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Jhon Duran's only other start for Aston Villa this season came in the 2-1 Carabao Cup win at Wycombe last month.

He scored a late penalty at Adams Park to ensure progress but his other five goals have come from the bench.

It is a different world to leading the line in the Champions League and, after four goals in eight substitute appearances in the Premier League, Duran has been given his chance on the biggest stage.

Of course, his late winner against Bayern Munich last time out in Europe - nine minutes after coming off the bench - has already etched him into Villa folklore.

Martin Keown
Former England defender on TNT Sports

Unai Emery sending a message to his squad by criticising Pau Torres? After their win over Fulham he was critical of the defender for being at fault for Raul Jimenez' goal. Torres came to Villa from Villarreal where he played under Emery, he knows him as a player better than almost anyone else.

He is a bit of a teacher's pet or favourite if you like, so with the competition in the squad, the likes of Tyrone Mings back involved in the squad tonight, is that criticism just a message to the players about their standards?

Bologna have shown they are no pushovers in the Champions League this season, having given Liverpool a bit of a scare before they lost 2-0.

The Italians created a number of chances against the Reds and also hit the woodwork but paid the price for not making the most of their opportunities, and they will be determined to be more ruthless tonight.

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Aston Villa

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports: "We are in a key moment of the month. We played at the weekend, we play tonight and now we have all the players available. We struggled in August and September without some very important players. Now we try to manage the best team for today.

"We have to try to keep our standards high. This is not only the case with the starting eleven but those in the bench too, the substitutes have gave us a lot before.

On Jhon Duran starting the game: "It is an important moment for him but he must keep his level as high as in previous performances when he was a substitute. I am looking forward to seeing him play in the starting eleven, he has done it before many times but today is another step up. We need to be able to keep the structure tactically, and try to add minutes to other players.

On Tyrone Mings' return to the bench: "It is good news. We already had good news with Emi Buendia coming back and being better and better, and Boubacar Camara was also back on the bench. We had to do without all three last yeat but managed to reach our objectives. We hope to be even stronger this year with them."

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Aston Villa have struggled to sell out for the visit of Bologna.

With home games against Bayern Munich, Juventus and Celtic to choose from the game against the Serie A side was always going to be fourth in line for supporters.

That is perhaps owing to their high ticket prices the club put out for the Champions League. An adult ticket for the game, which was available two hours before kick off, in the Upper Holte End is £94.

It does not mean there is no appetite for the game - especially with Villa enjoying their best start to a Premier League season in 26 years.

Fans were arriving three hours before the game and were seen patiently waiting for Villa Park and the new fan zone - which is in the North Stand car park - to open.

Villa are chasing a third straight win after victories against Young Boys and Bayern and beating Bologna - 12th in Serie A with one win from eight games - would cement their place in the top eight and the automatic qualification spots for the last 16.

Chris Sutton
Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

On Arsenal's discipline...

People are talking about Arsenal's lack of discipline. I felt sorry for Saliba as it was Trossard's errant pass that led to that mistake.

The issue you have when you're in a title race with the dominating Man City you cannot afford to give them points.

This was going to be season for Arsenal and if it carries it on they will gift Man City or Liverpool the title.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal’s red card problem is already seriously affecting their season. I am not convinced they are suddenly a ‘dirty’ or violent team, even if they are on a run of more reds than anyone else in the Premier League. They have accumulated 18 in the past five years compared with their nearest challengers who are way back on 13!

I reckon it is simply a result of them being more ruthless, more physical and a tad more ‘worldly’ than they used to be. You do not train players to be more cynical or professional - choose your own description here - you just buy players who are more inclined that way. Players that will do whatever is needed to win.

‌This season Declan Rice was unlucky against Brighton, Leandro Trossard was trying and ultimately failing to be canny at Manchester City pretending he wasn’t kicking the ball away and William Saliba was simply determined to stop Evanilson by whatever means necessary at Bournemouth.

‌The outcome is seven points dropped in games after players seeing red. Yes they have to be committed and streetwise but any more defeats because of a player sent to the showers early will not be clever.

In fact, it will be quite the opposite.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter here.

William Saliba's straight red for hauling back Bournemouth's Evanlison when clean through on goal means Arsenal have had three players sent off in the opening eight matches of a season for the first time since 2011-12.

It follows Declan Rice and Leandro Trossard being dismissed for second bookable offences against Brighton and Manchester City respectively. All three have come in the games the Gunners have not won.

The three red cards are already more than the two Mikel Arteta's side were given across both 2022-23 and 2023-24 seasons combined.

Arsenal's most in a complete Premier League season was in 1998-99, when they received seven across their 38 games.

So, have the Gunners got a discipline problem? Hit the thumbs.

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Arsenal's Premier League title hopes took a hit at the weekend with their 2-0 defeat by Bournemouth. William Saliba was sent off in the first half as the Gunners slipped to their first defeat in six months.

Does all that pressure cause mistakes? The Monday Night Club debate.

Chris Sutton
Ex-Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Shakhtar Donetsk are the Ukrainian champions, but they haven't started the season well. So this is a great opportunity for Arsenal in the Champions League where they've done okay so far. They played out a draw with Atalanta but then beat a much-fancied Paris Saint-Germain 2-0.

But Arsenal have a huge game against Liverpool in the Premier League coming up on Sunday. Mikel Arteta might be looking forward to that game, but can he take Shakhtar lightly? Now that European football is around, we will see the Premier League managers rotating their squad a lot.

It feels like this is one of those games where Arsenal would want to get the job done early. They'll want to go a couple of goals up early, take off some of those key players and bring on a few substitutes as they look ahead to that Liverpool game.

Just over half an hour until kick off in North London...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Reckon you've mastered the new Champions League format?

In this year's edition, 36 teams play eight league phase matches and are all competing on one big table.

The top eight go straight through to the round of 16, ninth to 24th enter a play-off round, and 25th to 36th are dumped out of the tournament.

So who do you think will go through as leaders? And who steals that last knockout spot?

Predict your final table here.

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Before this evening's matches got under way, Borussia Dortmund sat top of the Champions League league phase with two wins from two and a goal difference of nine.

Serhou Guirassy and Karim Adeyemi lead their goal-scoring charts with three goals each.

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Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund meet for the first time since last season’s Champions League final, won 2-0 by the Madrid side at Wembley.

Dortmund were the underdogs that day but will be flying high on confidence today sitting at the top of the Champions League league table with two wins from two while Real Madrid are 17th with a win and a loss.

Borussia Dortmund have never won in seven away Champions League matches at Real Madrid (D2 L5) but a 1-0 defeat by Lille last time out for Carlo Ancelotti's side ended a 14-game unbeaten run in the competition which Dortmund will be keen to take advantage of.

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Manchester City midfielder Rodri is also one of the heavy contenders for the prestigious Ballon d'Or.

Who would get your vote?

Vinicius Junior is in the squad this evening for Real Madrid as they take on Borussia Dortmund and the Football News Show have been discussing why their forward Vinicius Jr is the favourite for the Ballon d'Or.

Watch the full show here.

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Aston Villa could see their night spoilt by one of their own players tonight.

Samuel Iling-Junior is on loan from the Premier League side at Bologna, and was included in the visitors' squad because Uefa competitions allow players to face their parent clubs.

The forward has played five times for Bologna this season - all from off the bench - and scored once.