Club World Cup
Group Stage Match 1 Wednesday 5th March 2025
Aston Villa v Flamengo
Liverpool v Club Atlético Vélez Sarsfield
Bournemouth v Monterrey
Brentford v Los Angeles FC
Manchester United v Botafogo
Everton v Club Atlético Central Córdoba
Leicester City v Club America
Manchester City v Inter Miami
Sheets by 8pm Sheet under Club World Cup and Group Stage Match 1
It's not been the start to the season we wanted with defeat in the super cup after extra time followed by the loss of our opening league game. So this is a welcome first run out at Villa Park for the season where we won 16 of our 20 games (80%) last season and only lost twice - against the two Manchester clubs. Hopefully we can continue with that positive record and get our season on track with a first win.
We won our first game of the equivalent competition last season but then picked up 3 draws, a loss and only one more win seeing us exit the group stage with nine points. In season 21 we did similar, losing 4 of our 6 and going out early. In fact, since we won the then Intercontinental Cup in season 20, we haven't progressed out of a group. As former winners of the top continental trophy (season 16) that isn't acceptable. So we want to make sure we get off to the best start this time around.
At this time it doesn't seem Flamengo have a manager so i'm not sure what to expect. They are a fairly strong outfit but I feel we have superior quality and hopefully that will mean we can come good on the night with a bouncing Villa Park likely right behind us
We have no injury concerns and will just rotate for fitness purposes. Having been named captain for the second straight season in the week Diogo Nascimiento will make his first start of the season in one guaranteed change - but there will likely be a couple of others.
We used to be the master of group stage football but have slipped recently. Hopefully this is a season to get us back on track.
Right our second game of the season and we are hoping from better than the first.
We are at home in this one at least which should help us, hopefully but we face an unknown quantity in foreign opposition. The counter to the home advantage is they have a fully fit squad as this is their first game. We are ok in that we have no injuries but 1 or 2 players aren't 100% fitness but close.
We will select a team based on that and to hopefully get ourselves up and running.
