Villa Face Barcelona at Nou Camp Tuesday
Unai Emery returns to the Nou Camp, where PSG suffered its 2017 Champions League collapse, as Aston Villa face Barcelona.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Soccer
Aston Villa, joint top of the Champions League table after three group phase matches, face Barcelona at the Nou Camp on Tuesday. Unai Emery returns to the ground for the first time in the Champions League since PSG's 2017 defeat there.
Why it matters
The fixture revisits one of European football's most dramatic results, when PSG lost 6-1 at the Nou Camp and went out 6-5 on aggregate after leading 4-0. Emery's return and Villa's standing make the match a test of the club's credentials among the competition's leading sides.
The 2017 comeback is described as the biggest fightback in European Cup history, with PSG conceding three goals after the 88th minute of the second leg. Villa's result will be measured against Emery's record of leading the club to the Champions League quarter-finals two years ago.
The players
Aston Villa
English Premier League club based in Birmingham, competing in the Champions League for the first time in several seasons.
Barcelona
Spanish club based in Barcelona, one of the most successful clubs in European competition history.
Unai Emery
Spanish football manager who coached Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 and has coached for 22 consecutive years since 2004.
The details
Emery, who turns 55 on Tuesday, said Monday that he had discussed lessons from the 2017 match and believes the hosts deserve to be ranked among the favourites for the competition. John McGinn, 32, is among the Villa players in the squad for the trip to Barcelona.
Timeline
2017: PSG lost 6-5 on aggregate to Barcelona in the Champions League.
Two years ago: Emery led Villa to the Champions League quarter-finals.
Monday, November 2, 2026: Emery discussed lessons from the 2017 match.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: Aston Villa face Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
Season Trajectory
Villa's position at the top of the Champions League table after three matches places the club among the early contenders in the competition. The fixture recalls the 2017 Nou Camp result, which remains the reference point for the biggest fightback in European Cup history.
The result affects Villa's group standing and qualification prospects in the Champions League. Fantasy managers tracking McGinn and other Villa players should note the match is scheduled for Tuesday.
The takeaway
The Nou Camp fixture underlines how quickly a Champions League tie can turn, and Villa's early form will be tested against a side with the 2017 result in its history. Results on Tuesday will shape the club's position in the standings.
Further reading
For more on the competition, see Soccer coverage across the Champions League.
