These sides met in the Europa League last season, and there were exactly ten corners. Aston Villa held onto the win in the end as Jadon Sancho scored the only goal of the game, but it was a very even contest. Both sides managed exactly five corners apiece to clear this line. This time, Aston Villa will benefit from home advantage, but it is likely to be another even contest. 

Fenerbahce are averaging 9.8 corners per game this season, rising to 11.4 when playing away. They are averaging 7.0 corners for, and 4.4 corners against when playing on their travels this campaign. The Turkish side are not short of talent in the final third, so this could be quite an open contest.

The previous meeting between these sides was a feisty encounter which produced nine cards and 28 fouls. Fenerbahce were responsible for five of those bookings, while Villa accounted for the other four, as they struggled to retain their lead towards the end of the match.

Cards are usually a target to keep an eye on when Fenerbahce are playing - they are averaging 2.3 cards per game from their seven away matches this term, despite just one of those ending in defeat. 

Even last season, the Turkish side had an average of 3.7 cards per game in the Europa League. Meanwhile, Villa are averaging 2.5 cards per game across all competitions this season, and they have been booked at least twice in eight out of nine games in total.

Johan Manzambi made an immediate impact on his first Premier League start, scoring against Tottenham before the international break. The Swiss international registered four shots in that match, with two hitting the target.

He was unfortunate not to find the back of the net against Brentford last time out, as he accumulated seven shots with one on target. Manzambi is not lacking confidence in the final third - he is averaging 5.12 shots per 90 as a Villa player. |

|After his stellar World Cup campaign, during which he registered three goals and two assists, Manzambi has gone from strength to strength, and the 20-year-old is one to keep an eye on midweek.

Joao Gomes has committed at least two fouls in four of his five competitive starts for Aston Villa.

The former Wolves man has also been shown two yellow cards and a red in that time, which shows how he has taken a bit of time to get up to speed with Unai Emery’s tactics.

The Brazilian presses intensely in midfield, and Villa haven’t been anywhere near as effective at controlling possession this season. 

Fenerbahce are averaging 12.4 fouls drawn per game this season across all competitions, which shows how they can be a frustrating team to come up against. Joao Gomes should be kept busy in midfield.

Fenerbahce were kept at bay by Aston Villa last season, but they have since added Mason Greenwood to their front line.

The former Man United man has already bagged four goals in eight appearances for the Turkish side, and he has been a constant threat in the final third.

The winger is averaging 3.98 shots per 90 across all competitions this season, which is more than any other Fenerbahce player. 

Even last season, Greenwood scored 26 goals in 45 appearances across all competitions for Marseille. Villa have only kept one clean sheet in their nine matches this season, so Greenwood should be able to find chances in the final third.

Greenwood has racked up the most shots in the Fenerbahce squad, but Vedat Muriqi has been the most efficient when chances have fallen his way.

The Kosovo international has scored six goals in eight appearances across all competitions after completing his move from Mallorca last season. Muriqi scored 23 goals in 37 La Liga appearances last season, but that wasn’t enough to save Mallorca from relegation. 

The striker is averaging 3.59 shots per 90 this season, and 57% of those have hit the target. That is impressive efficiency, and it speaks volumes of the quality of chances Muriqi is finding - he knows how to pick gaps in opposing defences, and this looks like a good matchup for him against a shaky Villa backline.

John McGinn has already collected four yellow cards for Aston Villa this season. He was booked during the Champions League victory over Club Brugge after committing three fouls, while he has also been carded twice in the Premier League, despite being only six matches into the campaign.

If the Villa captain starts on the right wing again, he will find duels against Archie Brown and Kerem Akturkoglu, who have combined for an average of 2.95 fouls drawn per 90 across all competitions this season. The Turkish side often concentrate play down that left wing, which should bring McGinn into the game defensively. The Scottish international is averaging 1.79 fouls per 90 this season, and that figure could rise further midweek.

Following the departure of Youri Tielemans over the summer, Boubacar Kamara has been given a much greater role on the ball in midfield, and Emery will be desperate for the Frenchman to remain fit this season.

He was fouled five times against Brentford at the weekend, taking his average to 1.87 fouls drawn per 90 across all competitions. He has landed this selection in four of his last five starts for Villa. 

Fenerbahce are likely to press strongly in midfield, but Kamara is adept at retaining possession and using his body to buy free-kicks. Even last season, Kamara had an average of 1.91 fouls drawn per 90 despite missing large parts through injury.

Archie Brown has committed eight fouls in five Champions League appearances this season, as Fenerbahce had to navigate their way through the qualifying rounds.

The left back accumulated three infringements against Roma in round one of the league phase, and he looked a bit exposed at times. 

Brown should find himself directly up against McGinn on Wednesday night, and that is a matchup to keep an eye on. The Scottish international was fouled five times against Brentford last time out, taking his average this season to 3.23 fouls drawn per 90 across all competitions.

He is adept at using his body to draw soft fouls, and Archie Brown should have plenty of defensive work to get through.

Few players are as consistent when it comes to committing fouls and picking up bookings as João Gomes.

The Brazilian committed the second-most fouls in the Premier League last season, averaging 2.19 fouls per 90 minutes. He was booked in 10 of his 35 appearances.

That trend has continued since his move to Aston Villa, with bookings in the Champions League, Premier League and Super Cup against PSG.

While João Gomes tends to pick up a considerable number of bookings regardless of the opposition, Fenerbahçe have players capable of causing him problems.

The Turkish side drew 18 fouls against Roma, with Muriqi (4), Brown (4) and Greenwood (2) standing out. These players pose different threats across the pitch, particularly in transition, and could keep the Brazilian midfielder busy defensively.

One of the most notable trends in European football over the last few seasons is the dominance that Premier League teams tend to have. 

We saw this in all three European competitions last season, with a Premier League side featuring in all three finals and two of the competitions being won by English sides. 

Aston Villa have recovered well from a fairly slow start to the season, though that is not unusual under Unai Emery - they’ve grown into the season in each of the last three seasons and made a similarly slow start to last campaign.

Aston Villa have avoided defeat in each of their last four matches, winning three of these games with the exception of a 2-2 draw against Brentford last time out.

Fenerbahce’s form looks good on paper, but there is a massive jump in quality between the Turkish Super Lig and the Champions League, and I think you’ll see that play out in the final result.