Aston Villa's difficult start to the 2026-27 Premier League season has seen them fail to win or score in their opening three matches. The club's position is 17th in the table with just one point, having scored none and conceded five, a situation reported by Daily Mail Sport.
Unai Emery's side are eight points behind leaders Manchester City. Their next chance to turn things around comes at home against Nottingham Forest on September 12th, a fixture you can see on our fixtures page. The immediate focus, however, shifts to Europe as Villa prepare to face Club Bruges in their Champions League group stage opener on Tuesday.
What is the state of Aston Villa's attack?
The lack of goals is a major concern. The club's only scorer in any competition this term is 17-year-old forward Brian Madjo, who netted in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain. He is currently sidelined with an ankle problem and is not expected back until after the international break.
This has placed pressure on other attacking options. Tammy Abraham, who joined from Besiktas in January, brings experience from over 400 senior appearances. New signings Zion Suzuki, Joao Gomes, and Nicolas Jackson have started games, but Alejandro Garnacho has been limited to just 31 competitive minutes. The club's record signing, Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi, is also managing a knee issue.
Why was Taylor Harwood-Bellis left out of the Champions League squad?
A peculiar decision saw the £30million centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis omitted from Villa's submitted Champions League squad. This was a direct result of UEFA's financial regulations, which require a balanced squad and limit spending. With six players from the first-choice XI already absent, Emery had to make tough choices to comply.
The manager addressed the situation, saying, "We opened the door for him but he’s decided to stay here with us." Emery added, "His challenge here is very important." This follows a pattern from last season when Donyell Malen was removed from the European squad after the arrivals of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio.
Who are the new faces in Villa's evolving squad?
The summer saw significant turnover, with online followers dubbing the new group 'Villa 2.0'. Leon Goretzka, 31, arrived on a free transfer on August 27th but has yet to feature in a matchday squad. Academy product George Hemmings, aged 19, has made eight senior appearances and started in the home defeat to Arsenal.
Conversely, the club has been linked with exits for several established players, including Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Ezri Konsa. Former Emery signing Morgan Rogers, who moved to Chelsea for £117m, is now one of the most expensive players in history. You can view the full current roster on our squad page.
Where does Aston Villa go from here?
The immediate challenge is twofold: finding a winning formula in the Premier League and making a strong start in Europe. The squad is clearly in a period of transition, constrained by financial rules and hit by early injuries. Their league standing of 17th, with a goal difference of minus five, shows the scale of the task.
All focus now turns to the visit of Club Bruges in the Champions League, a competition where Villa's revamped squad will be truly tested. The subsequent Premier League match against 16th-placed Nottingham Forest at Villa Park on September 12th represents a critical opportunity to climb the standings.
