Aston Villa’s preparations for their huge semi-final first leg at the City Ground have been thrown into uncertainty, with Amadou Onana facing a late fitness test just hours before kick-off.
The Villans travel to face Vítor Pereira’s side in what promises to be a high-stakes clash, but all eyes are now on whether one of Villa’s key midfield figures will be ready to step onto the pitch.
Manager Unai Emery confirmed the situation is still unclear after the Belgian missed the weekend defeat to Fulham with a knock. Speaking ahead of the match, Emery admitted the final decision will come down to how Onana responds in training.
“We train this afternoon, and we will see how he is responding,” Emery said. “If he’s feeling good, he could play. We tested him yesterday, but today is decisive.”
The uncertainty leaves Villa fans on edge, knowing how crucial Onana could be in controlling the midfield battle in such an important fixture.
Meanwhile, the injury concerns don’t stop there. Boubacar Kamara remains a long-term absentee, dealing another blow to Villa’s options in the middle of the park. To make matters worse, Ross Barkley and Alysson are unavailable after being left out of the Europa League squad.
With so much at stake, Emery faces a tense wait — and Villa’s semi-final hopes could hinge on one final fitness call.
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