On Thursday, August 20th Rapid Vienna of the Austrian Bundesliga will host Aston Villa of the English Premier League in the first leg of their two leg Europa League match up. Thursday's game will be played at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium in Vienna at 18:15 local time.

Aston Villa come into the match with rust still to shake off from the offseason. Villa has yet to face a true test through the preseason and was thoroughly defeated in their English Premier League opener at home, losing 2-0 to Wigan Athletic. Rapid Vienna meanwhile is three games into their Bundesliga season and are in seventh place with a 1-1-1 record.

Villa will have their leading scorer from the past two seasons, John Carew, back in the lineup against Rapid Vienna. Carew missed the Villans Premier League opener last weekend with a foot injury. In other big news, Villa are shaking off rumors that star defender Luke Young may be on his way out in a transfer to Hull City.

Both sides will be looking for a good start to their European seasons by picking up a victory Thursday evening. Vienna holds the upper hand, playing at home first, but Villa are considered the favorites. Aston Villa will need the win to boost their confidence and perhaps convince supporters that this squad is capable of handling a long, grueling schedule between the Premier League and Europa League games.

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