We got off to a winning start when we overcame Velez Sarsfield by a single goal and now we're facing the champions from Mexico. Harry is caretake manager for Rayados and he is a tough manager to play. We have to do it without Jarell Quansah, Dominik Szoboszlai and William Saliba. Quansah and Szonoszlai was sent off at the weekend while Saliba was stetched off with a minor knock. He will miss two games with his injury. We only have four defenders to choose from and can't afford more suspensions/injuries. In midfield Javier Casas will return to the starting line up and he'll looking to make another impressive performance in the Club World Cup. I'm not too confident going into this one with three players absent but we should have the quality to give Rayados a hard game.
We face a midweek trip to Argentina to take on their champions. We had a great win in the first round but going away to a managed side with a top manager and a quality roster is going to be a very different proposition. They are a team who can undoubtedly give us a serious run for our money.
We know little about them but know that Will has more than enough ability to win this competition. We've had some major battles over the years and have each come out on top at various points. It's a while since I have taken him on with him having a better roster though - so I fear the worst!
They will be at full strength whilst we are missing two of our key players in Gvardiol and Guimaraes - both of whom are suspended for this one. The defence is also short on fitness although we are expecting Clement Lenglet to arrive to bolster things before we get on the plane for this game.
It's undoubtedly one where we would be happy with a point. But we'll see if we can find a way to three. Probably one of the harder games we'll play this season but let's give it a go
Having had our bye week in the last round we now play every week in this one and so it's time to get the Egyptians up and running. We face a trip to Brazil to take on Botafogo who are looked after by Mark Baldwin. I don't know much about him as a manger so this will be a new experience for me.
We have a pretty strong roster but away games in intercontinental competitions are tricky so we know this won't be easy. I haven't really familiarised myself with the squad and I don't think I have faced Mark before so we are very much going in blind into this one. On the plus side we are at full strength with no fitness worries so can go with the strongest side and hope to get our campaign off to a great start.
I don't know how far I can take this team but it's a good opportunity to have another crack at this competition so we won't be taking it lightly. A Villa vs Al Alhy final would be a great result but that's a long way off. Let's see if we can get on the board first and foremost...
Ok game 2 is away at Clun America who look a tidy outfit and could be a harder task than we anticipate.
We got off well in game one and want to keep that run going in this competition.
We have no injuries or suspensions and new signing Son has arrived and will be in the match day squad for this one. Other than that we will look to rotate knowing we have a league game coming up after this.
We got off to a great start in the first game of this cup competition and so it would be great to build on that, we have Calafiori missing with suspension but other than him we are fit and ready to travel to LA and give to our best against a good world club side so its going to be interesting to see if we walk away with a point as a minimum!
