Live - Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)

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By Sam Lyon

4 mins: First effort of the match and it falls to Villa, Emile Heskey knocking Marc Albrighton's centre down and Barry Bannan slapping wide left-footed from the edge of the area. Encouraging.

2 mins: Their line-up may have an average of around 12 (wild exaggeration alert) but Villa have opened up steadily in Austria, with Marc Albrighton - so impressive against Villa at the weekend - to the fore early on. Good controlled possession from the travelling midlanders.

1746: We are under way in the Rapid-Villa match.

1744: We're moments away from kick-off in Austria, which gives me just enough time to let you know that while Rapid got started this season with back-to-back defeats, they responded with consecutive league wins as well as a 3-0 win over Bulgarian Cup holders PFC Beroe Stara Sagora last time out in the Europa League. Tonight could well be tricky for Villa.

RKW - Bred Pole on 606: "A mate of mine said to me today that English teams don't take the Europa League seriously. I can't see where he got that from. Oh, hang on a minute..."

EmJayLambert on Twitter: "Is it just me, or does this Villa "B" team have two members of the England World Cup squad in it?"

1739: RAPID VIENNA v ASTON VILLA:
Jonathan Stevenson reports: "I'm not sure revenge is the right word, but it's a certainty Aston Villa will not want to bow out at this stage of the Europa League for a second successive year to unfancied Austrians Rapid Vienna. Caretaker-boss Kevin McDonald might have a squad weakened by injuries, suspension and the decision to rest key players, but Villa - also shorn of Martin O'Neill and James Milner from 12 months ago - will be confident they have enough quality to progress."

gunner-zp on 606: "Looking at the Villa team, they will be lucky to come away with a draw."

1735: Our friends at Infostrada Sports have compiled a rather delightful set of facts to kick us off tonight. According to their Euro Club index, Aston Villa are ranked 25 among Europe's top clubs, with Liverpool 10th and Manchester City 26th. With Rapid Vienna and Trabzonspor at 94 and 96 respectively, they are around the level of Newcastle United, while City's opponents FC Timisoara are ranked 125th - around the level of Bolton Wanderers. That puts their predicted win percentages thus...
Rapid Vienna 25%, Aston Villa 52%
FC Timisoara 22%, Manchester City 57%
Liverpool 78%, Trabzonspor 8%
No, I have no idea how that works either but I like it dagnammit.

collie21 on 606: "Obviously Europe is not a priority for Villa then this season."

1729: RAPID VIENNA v ASTON VILLA:
Jonathan Stevenson reports: "So, as expected Aston Villa make a raft of changes after their 3-0 win over West Ham at the weekend - eight in all. Incoming are keeper Brad Guzan, defenders Curtis Davies, Habib Beye and Eric Lichaj, midfielders Nigel Reo-Coker, Jonathan Hogg and Barry Bannan and striker Emile Heskey, with only Stephen Warnock, Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton surviving the cull. Rapid Vienna striker Nikica Jelavic has refused to play, but key defender Ragnvald Soma has shaken off a thigh injury to feature."

Silvio_Di_Fede on Twitter: "I'm left stunned by the Aston Villa line-up: is this the way to avoid another disappointment against Rapid Vienna?!"

1726: RAPID VIENNA v ASTON VILLA:
Rapid Vienna: Hedl, Sonnleitner, Heikkinen, Katzer, Soma, Kayhan, Hoffmann, Kavlak, Hinum, Salihi, Nuhiu. Subs: Payer, Patocka, Drazan, Gartler, Saurer, Dober, Pehlivan.
Aston Villa: Guzan, Warnock, Lichaj, Davies, Beye, Reo-Coker, Albrighton, Bannan, Hogg, Downing, Heskey. Subs: Friedel, Delfouneso, Osbourne, Weimann, Clark, Lowry, Baker.
Referee: Alain Hamer (Luxembourg)

MsHighbury on 606: "I'm looking forward to seeing the team Man City are going to put out later, I bet they wished they could name 11 subs..."

1724: Now then, Europa League football - for you lot and me - is just about as exciting as Thursdays get - obviously - but there is always an exception that proves the rule, and tonight that man is Rapid striker Nikica Jelavic who has refused to turn out for the Austrian outfit. As a result he won't face Villa and has been transfer-listed. That is good news for two British clubs - one being Rangers, who now look odds-on to sign him, the other being Aston Villa given Jelavic was the man who knocked them out of this competition at the same stage last year. Happy days.

Leigh on 606: "Ideal situation for Liverpool is to qualify for the groups so we can blood some of our youngsters, keep the seniors fresh for the league. Hodgson won't sacrifice league form for European glory."

1719: Oh, and let me give you all a heads up as far as our Scottish contingent goes tonight - we'll be bringing you a separate commentary for all things Celtic v FC Utrecht, Dundee United v AEK Athens and Odense v Motherwell from around 1730 BST - so I'll let you know where you can find that as and when it goes live.

Jason in Stoke via text: "Sat in the office looking forward to Villa and got you for company as I can't watch it here. What will probably be a makeshift side has the chance to shine - may they put up or shut up!"

KB2X on Twitter: "I'm predicting 6-0 Liverpool tonight - got a good feeling about the Hodgson Era!!"

1714: So, if you could all be so kind as to get involved on this here commentary, I'd be ever so grateful. The ball is already rolling on 606, you can text me on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide) with FOOTBALL before your message, or you can tweet me on that there Twitter. The floor is all yours folks.

1709: Yep, tonight the Europa League gets interesting, and we're still only at the qualifying play-off stage. Liverpool are of course involved after seeing off Rabotnicki in the previous round - they are up against Trabzonspor - while big-spenders Manchester City mark their return to European competition with a trip to FC Timisoara. More on both of those ties later, as there will be on CSKA Sofia v Welsh outfit The New Saints - the lowest-ranked team in the competition. First up, though, we have Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa for you to enjoy over your evening meal from 1745 BST. Beautiful scenes.

1705: Thursdays. No longer will they be all about the ill-advised drink-on-a-school-night that makes Fridays at work such a drag, oh no - Thursday night is Europa League football night again. You ready?

Potenshöjande medel - potenshöjande medel