Europa League preview: Aston Villa v Rapid Vienna (agg: 1-1)
Just when Aston Villa thought life would be easy without the departed Martin O’Neill and James Milner, they go and lose 6-0 to newly-promoted Newcastle United.
A shambolic team performance at St James’ Park saw Kevin MacDonald’s side comprehensively taken apart by the Magpies last Sunday, leaving big question marks over the caretaker manager’s future.
His stint in charge had started so well, too. A 3-0 win over West Ham on the opening day of the season was followed up with a 1-1 draw in Vienna against tonight’s opponents, Rapid. Sadly, it seemed increasingly like a classic case of beginners luck with every passing goal that nestled into the back of the Villa net at Newcastle last weekend.
However, MacDonald has the perfect opportunity to prove to his critics that it was a mere freak result. Securing a credible draw in Vienna means that his side are in a decent position to push on and record another positive result at Villa Park and avoid suffering the same fate as last season.
Equipped with a potentially-crucial away goal this time around, Villa may send out their big-name stars to complete the job. The first-leg saw MacDonald deploy a youthful side at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium, which initially looked like an unwise move until the impressive Marc Albrighton teed up Barry Bannan for the opening goal of the match on the 10th minute.
The likes of John Carew, Ashley Young and new arrival Stephen Ireland could all feature against the Austrian outfit to ensure qualification for the group stages. If MacDonald decides to gamble on youth for the second successive match, he will also be risking any chance he has of securing the job on a permanent basis.
Several highly-regarded managers are waiting patiently for the call from Villa’s American owner Randy Lerner if he decides to replace the current caretaker boss, including USA head coach Bob Bradley, who confirmed earlier in the week that he would relish the opportunity to manage the West Midlands club.
But it’s down to MacDonald to showcase his credentials tonight. It’s believed that Lerner is still desperate for his caretaker manager to prove himself, and a win over Rapid may well be enough, despite the drubbing against Newcastle.
The club’s opponents are vastly experienced in European competition and won’t be fazed by the prospect of travelling to Villa Park, as they proved last season. An away goal would instantly give them the upper-hand again, although the man who scored at Villa’s home ground last year, Nikica Jelavic, is no longer with the Austrian club.
The Croatia striker was at the centre of controversy in the hours before last week’s first-leg, when he refused to play to avoid being cup-tied for his new club, Rangers. Now that transfer has been completed, it will allow Rapid manager Peter Pacult to fully concentrate on the job in hand – albeit without his best forward.
There will be a few nerves around Villa Park this evening from both sets of supporters, but the pressure is undoubtedly on the home side to deliver. And all eyes – including Lerner’s – will be firmly fixed on MacDonald.
The caretaker boss will be hoping that his players bounce back for him against Rapid this evening and take the club to the Europa League group stages, but the Austrians would enjoy spoiling the Villa party for a second successive year.
Prediction: Aston Villa 2 Rapid Vienna 1
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