From Camp Nou holiday tour to Champions League for Villa's McGinn

Aston Villa captain John McGinn will lead his team in a Champions League match against Spanish giants Barcelona at Camp Nou on Tuesday. The Scotland international had only visited the stadium once previously, during a family holiday at Port Aventura theme park in Salou. McGinn expressed his excitement about facing the historic rivals for the first time in over 40 years.

The midfielder reminisced about a childhood visit to the stadium in 2003, when he saw Ricardo Quaresma sign for Barcelona. McGinn emphasized that Villa's participation in Europe's top competition allows him to fulfill his childhood dreams. He highlighted the historic nature of the stadium and the club's ambition to compete with the best in England and Europe.

The match comes after Villa secured three victories in their league phase, defeating Viking, Fenerbahce, and Club Brugge. Unai Emery, Barcelona's manager, acknowledged that Hansi Flick's side were among the favorites to win the trophy, noting that the PSG and Real Madrid games had been different and that they needed to adapt their approach.