Leon Bailey reveals key factor needed for Aston Villa victory over Bayern Munich
Leon Bailey insists Aston Villa fans will have a big part to play on Wednesday night (8pm kick-off) as Unai Emery's side host Bayern Munich at Villa Park in the Champions League.
The German giants were drawn out as Villa's home pot one opponents, while they will also play Bundesliga side RB Leipzig away later this year after three home games against Bayern, Bologna and Juventus, plus a trip to Club Brugge at the start of November.
Villa started their league phase campaign with a 3-0 win at BSC Young Boys and will play AS Monaco away in late January before completing their set of eight fixtures against Scottish champions Celtic at Villa Park on January 29.
Bayern, who have lifted the Champions League trophy six times, won their first league phase game 9-2 against Dinamo Zagreb and come into the clash with Villa on the back of a 1-1 Bundesliga draw with Bayer Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena.
They had won all six of their opening games in all competitions before facing the German champions, scoring 29 goals in total, and Bailey believes the backing of the Villa Park crowd will be key if Villa are to cause an upset on Wednesday.
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"It’s a big game, Villa Park is going to be exciting to see," Bailey said. "For the fans it is going to be big, but for us too as players who have not really played in Europe that much. We are going to enjoy the atmosphere and focus on playing our best together, as a team and try to get the job done.
"We know they have been brilliant in the Champions League for years and we are trying to be that team again, which plays in Europe regularly again. These are the teams you want to face. It is going to be exciting to see.
"This is what we have been working for, to be playing in the Champions League and against these big teams. To show our power, our quality and what Villa Park is made of with the atmosphere.
"You want to compete. We have been competing and we are a team who always wants to do that. It doesn’t matter if it is a cup game or the Champions League. That is what we are going to try and do.
"The fans need to play a big part on Wednesday. It is the first time Champions League football has been back at Villa Park for 42 years. It is going to be great.
"Everyone is going to be excited about it and the message to the fans is just give us the best support you can and we will do the best we can to get the win."
Villa host Bayern on the back of a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Sunday, a result which ended their 100 per cent record on the road, but maintained their strong start to the campaign nonetheless.
"It is definitely frustrating for us," Bailey admitted after Villa were leading Ipswich 2-1 until the 72nd minute. "We went there with the mindset to win the game but it is difficult. They deserved to draw the game if we are honest.
"They played really well and we needed to push more if we really wanted the points and we didn’t do that in the end. What more can we do? We gave it our best but they were also very good as well. They’re a good team. We’ll take the point and move on."