Aston Villa vs. Bayern Munich: Watkins Eyes England Spot in UCL Clash

Aston Villa's home clash against Bayern Munich in the second round of the Champions League league phase on Wednesday evening offers Ollie Watkins a prime opportunity to showcase his talents to England manager Gareth Southgate. With Harry Kane still recovering from an ankle injury, Watkins is eager to put down an England marker and stake his claim for a starting spot in the national team.

The Battle for the Starting Striker Spot

Watkins, who has four goals for Villa this season, is vying for the coveted striker position in the England team alongside the prolific Kane. While Watkins enjoyed a strong European Championship with England, Kane remains the established choice due to his exceptional record.

Watkins acknowledges the rivalry but maintains a respectful relationship with Kane. "Everyone is fighting for a position on the pitch so I want to be the man to play but day in day out," Watkins said. "Harry and I have a good relationship. When I'm in the camp I speak to him so there's no animosity. I'm doing all I can to be on the pitch and so is he. He's got the records and scored the number of goals he has for a reason. He's put in a lot of hard work over the years to get there."

Kane's Fitness Uncertain

Kane, who has been in sensational form for Bayern this season with 10 goals in seven appearances, is a doubt for the match due to the ankle injury he sustained in Bayern's 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen. Bayern manager Vincent Kompany remains optimistic about Kane's availability, but the striker's fitness will be assessed until the last minute.

"I think you have seen Harry was on the pitch today, that went well but we will still have to wait until [Wednesday] and see how the situation is and then we will make the correct decision," Kompany said. "He trained with us today and hopefully everything will work out fine."

Emery's Tactical Approach

If Kane does feature, Villa manager Unai Emery will need to devise a strategy to limit the impact of the prolific striker. "We analyse the tactical areas collectively and then you have to stop the players," Emery said. "They have Harry Kane, he knows us and we know him, but his capacity and potential will be on the pitch. We have to try to stop him."

A Historic Occasion for Villa

This match marks a historic occasion for Villa, as they host a European Cup match for the first time in 41 years. Watkins is eager to make the most of the occasion.

"I don't want to say we need to make the most of it because that sounds like we're underestimating ourselves, but we just enjoy it because it's so long since the club has been involved in a competition like this," Watkins said. "For me personally, I haven't experienced Champions League football before, so I want to enjoy it because this is what I dreamt of as a kid."

A Clash of Styles

Villa, currently in fifth place in the Premier League, have made a solid start to their European campaign with a 3-0 win away to Young Boys. They face a tough test against Bayern, who are currently top of the Bundesliga after an unbeaten start to the season.

Bayern manager Vincent Kompany has overseen a dominant start to the season, highlighted by their 9-2 thrashing of Dinamo Zagreb in their opening UCL match. The German champions will provide Villa with perhaps their most formidable opponent so far this season.

The 1982 European Cup Final Revisited

Tonight's match is a repeat of arguably the most memorable moment in Villa's history: the 1982 European Cup final, where they emerged victorious over Bayern, winning 2-1 in Rotterdam.

The match promises a clash of styles, with Bayern's possession-based approach likely to face a test against Villa's direct and pacey style of play. Regardless of the outcome, this match promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to make their mark on the Champions League stage.

How to Watch the Match

The match between Aston Villa and Bayern Munich is scheduled for Wednesday, October 2, at Villa Park in Birmingham, with kickoff set for 8 p.m. BST local time in the UK. The match will be available to stream on Paramount Plus in the US, TNT Sports 1 in the UK, DAZN in Canada, and Stan Sport in Australia.

Conclusion

The spotlight is on Ollie Watkins as he looks to impress Gareth Southgate in a high-profile match against a formidable Bayern Munich side. This is an opportunity for Watkins to demonstrate his ability to perform at the highest level and stake his claim for a starting spot in the England squad. With a historic occasion at Villa Park and the excitement of the Champions League, the stage is set for a captivating encounter between two clubs with rich histories and ambitious aspirations.