Rodri faces preferred opponent Aston Villa in Champions League clash

OPA WIRE, Nov 2 (OPA) — Rodri Hernandez enters Tuesday’s Champions League league phase match against Aston Villa with a notable scoring record against the English side. The 30-year-old midfielder, now with Barcelona, has netted five times in nine appearances against Villa, all of which occurred during his tenure at Manchester City. The match at Spotify Camp Nou marks the fourth round of the 2026-27 competition.

Throughout his professional career, which includes stints at Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City, and Barcelona, Rodri has recorded 41 goals in over 500 appearances. While his primary role remains defensive organization, his efficiency against Aston Villa stands out as a statistical anomaly. He has secured eight victories and one draw in his nine meetings with the club, remaining undefeated throughout those fixtures.

Three of Rodri's five goals against Villa were headers, including the decisive strike in the 2020 League Cup final. Beyond his scoring contributions, he has provided two assists against the Birmingham side. These figures contrast sharply with other players, such as Newcastle’s Anthony Gordon, who has struggled against Villa despite facing them 12 times across his career with Everton and Newcastle.

Gordon, 25, has managed only one goal and one assist against Aston Villa in 12 matches, suffering six defeats and two draws. As Barcelona hosts the Tuesday fixture at 21:00, the focus remains on whether Rodri can maintain his scoring streak against a team that has historically struggled to contain his offensive movement.