Young Boys vs Aston Villa Bet Builder Tips: Duran to create more drama in CL debut

After decades out of European club football’s elite competition, Aston Villa return to the big time on Tuesday (17:45, TNT Sports 1) as they head to the Wankdorf Stadium to face Swiss side Young Boys in the Champions League.

Read below for my Young Boys vs Aston Villa bet builder tips where I have drawn up a three-legged 15/2 shot featuring a player from either side, with one looking to create more headlines this week…

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Young Boys vs Aston Villa Odds

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Filip Ugrinic 1+ Shots on Target

Young Boys strikers Silvere Ganvoula and Cedric Itten are likely to be battling it out for a starting spot on Tuesday, with neither completely certain of getting the nod up top against Villa, although the former looks to be in the driving seat after being rested for Saturday’s 4-2 win at Vevey in the Swiss Super League.

One man who should definitely be starting in Bern is Filip Ugrinic, who will play in support of either Ganvoula or Itten. Ugrinic played the duration of Young Boys’ weekend win and is considered one of their most important stars.

The 25-year-old’s goal returns are modest – he scored once in 29 Swiss Super League appearances in 2022/23, four in 24 the following campaign, and has one in six this term – but he regularly tries his luck, and is fairly accurate, too – at least in terms of getting his shots on target.

Ugrinic is averaging two shots and 0.5 shots on target per game in the league this season, and he averaged 1.5 and 0.5 across six Champions League group games in 2023/24.

The Switzerland international took at least one shot in all three home matches against RB Leipzig (one), Manchester City (one) and Crvena zvezda (three), forcing a save from City’s Ederson Moraes in the first minute of their game in Bern, while he found the net with one of his four shots (two on target) against the Serbians in Belgrade. He also played once in the Europa League for Young Boys last season and scored with his only shot before being withdrawn at half-time.

Villa have been extremely suspect in defence so far this term, conceding twice to Arsenal and Everton, and once to West Ham United and Leicester City, with the Irons (two) the only side to register fewer than four shots on target against them.

At home, Young Boys will believe that they can do some damage to their English visitors, and I think Ugrinic looks a good bet to test Emilian Martinez in Villa goal.

Jhon Duran 1+ Shots on Target

Jhon Duran is the man of the moment at Villa Park following his heroic substitute displays this season. The Colombian striker has scored all three of Villa’s winners this season from the bench, with his latest effort against Everton the pick of the bunch as he let rip from distance.

The question now, is, when will Unai Emery hand the 20-year-old his first start of the season? Ollie Watkins began the 2024/25 campaign poorly, failing to find the net in his first three games to extend his domestic drought to eight matches, but the England international bagged a brace on Saturday and looks to be inching back to full fitness.

Duran, however, gave Emery further food for thought with his scintillating strike against the Toffees. The former Chicago Fire forward won’t be happy to sit around forever and after seemingly trying his hardest to leave the club in the summer, Duran will expect his manager to honour his performances with a start soon.

I think that could come in Bern on Tuesday, either alongside Watkins or instead of the 28-year-old, and if he does get the nod, expect him to fire off shots from all angles.

Despite limited game time, Duran is averaging two shots per game in the Premier League this season, and 0.8 shots on target per game, while he played twice for his country during the recent international break, appearing as a 72nd-minute substitute against Peru and starting versus Argentina. He forced a save from the goalkeeper in both games, further demonstrating his ability to hit the target when presented with the opportunity to do so.

Perhaps a fourth Villa goal in less than a month is asking for too much, but I’m backing Duran to at least register one shot on target on his Champions League debut.

John Duran Carded

I’m sticking with the Colombian for my third and final selection of this bet builder, and picking him to receive a card.

Duran appears to be a lively personality – both on and off the field – and his card count reflects that.

His final season at Envigado saw Duran booked 12 times in 23 league appearances, and he followed that up with seven in 27 MLS matches for the Chicago Fire. Last season, despite playing just 23 times in the Premier League and barely starting a game, he received five yellows, plus an extra three in the Europa Conference League.

Duran has already been carded in the Premier League this term – against Leicester – and was booked in his first and only start of the season so far, in Colombia’s 2-1 victory over Argentina last Tuesday.

He’ll be looking to put himself about in Bern and could pay the price for that by seeing his name jotted down in the referee’s notebook.

Offers

Place an In-Play single bet of £10 or more at odds of 1/2+ on any Champions League game on Tuesday or Wednesday and get £5 in Free Bets to use In-Play on Thursday’s Champions League games.

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