Our prediction for this Europa Conference League match:
Aston Villa
Match Time & Date:
05/10/2023
21:00
Prediction: 3-1
Zrinjski
Aston Villa will be aiming to build on a thrilling 6-1 win over Brighton when they host Zrinjski to their Villa Park in the Conference League group stages round 2. Ollie Watkins scored a hat-trick at the weekend, but Jhon Duran should lead the line for the hosts this time out. Both Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia are sidelined with injuries, while Leon Bailey is unlikely to be risked as the Jamaica international has been struggling with a hamstring problem.
Zrinjski, on the other hand, made a historical comeback in a 4-3 win over AZ Alkmaar in their opener, but given their difficulties on the road, anything but a routine home win would be a big surprise. Hrvoje Barisic continues to miss out with injury, but he should be the only absentee in the visiting team. It has to be noted that the two teams have never met before in European competitions.
Highlighted Player (Diego Carlos):
Diego Carlos Santos Silva is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Nantes as a defender. His main position is centre-back and his preferred foot is right. Diego Carlos began his youth career at America-SP and in 2010 he moved to Desportivo Brasil. After spending the 2012/2013 season on loan at Sao Paulo, the 185-cm-tall defender returned to Desportivo Brasil.
However, he made his first-team debut with Madureira during his spell with the club (2014). In 2014 Diego Carlos signed a contract with Portuguese club Estoril Praia and he scored two goals in 39 appearances for the Primeira Liga club. It has to be noted, though, that he played for Porto B (on loan) in the 2014/2015 season.
Diego Carlos moved to French club Nantes in the summer of 2016 and you should bear in mind that he quickly established himself as a first-team regular with les Canaris. The Brazilian footballer scored two goals in 34 appearances for Nantes in the 2016/2017 Ligue 1 campaign. His contract with the Ligue 1 side expires on June 20, 2021.
Highlighted Team (Aston Villa):
Aston Villa is one of the three clubs that dropped to the Championship at the end of the 2015/2016 Premier League campaign. The Villans host their rivals at Villa Park, the stadium that was opened in 1897 and its’ capacity is 42,682. However, it has to be noted that the highest attendance recorded at the stadium was 76,588 when Aston Villa faced Derby County in the FA Cup back in 1946.
Aston Villa’s fiercest rivals are Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion. Nonetheless, the rivalry between Aston Villa and Wolves and Coventry City is big as well. Aston Villa have won seven First Division (Premier League) trophies, with the team clinching seven FA Cup trophies as well.
The team’s biggest success, though, came in 1982 when they won the European Cup. The Villans defeated Bayern Munich (1-0) in the title game and Peter Withe was named the man of the match.
Brighton
Southampton
Barcelona
Las Palmas 
Crystal Palace
Newcastle 
Borussia Dortmund 
Bayern Munich 
West Ham
Arsenal
Chelsea 
