Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has set his sights on finally turning Villa Park into a fortress again as his side prepare to host Fenerbahce in the Champions League, still searching for their first home victory of the 2026-27 campaign.

Across all competitions this season, Villa have managed three wins — one in the Premier League, one in the EFL Cup and one in the Champions League — but every single one of them has come away from home. At Villa Park, they have collected just a single point, a 2-2 draw with Brentford last time out, following back-to-back defeats.

A European record to lean on

The omens for a change in fortunes on home soil are strong, particularly in continental competition. Villa have won each of their last 10 European home matches. Only twice this century has an English side put together a longer home winning run in major European competition: 12-game streaks by Manchester City (2022-2024) and Manchester United (2006-2008).

Villa also boast a flawless record against their opponents. They have won all three of their meetings with Fenerbahce to date, the most recent coming earlier this year — a 1-0 away win in the Europa League in January. Only against Bologna, whom they have beaten in all four encounters, do the Villans have a better 100% record than they do against Fenerbahce.

Emery: 'It should be like our fortress'

Villa Park is currently operating at reduced capacity, with building work taking place in the North Stand, meaning thousands fewer supporters will be in the ground. Emery, however, is confident the rest of the crowd can make up the difference.

"Our handicap is fewer supporters for the situation, but the club decided it; it is something to improve us for the future," Emery said. "We must try to be together, and without 7,000 supporters we must push everyone. We must play better football, compete better than we did, be more focused than we did."

The Spaniard admitted his side are still some way from where he wants them to be, despite signs of progress.

"We are realistic about how we are working and improving things. But it is not enough yet, so we are having lots of conversations with the team, in meetings and with videos, practising too, to show improvements in matches," he added.

"At Villa Park, we have not won yet, so it is very important how we can improve things to be closer to winning. It is a very good opportunity to do one step forward in those improvements and the players as well, to get confidence and feel comfortable.

"Villa Park is for us something very, very special. It should be like the four years that we are here — how we achieved this as a special place, our fortress. It is a new challenge to show it."

Champions League lift-off already secured

Villa's home frustrations contrast with their European form on the road. As reported on 11 September 2026, Emery's side opened their Champions League campaign with a 3-2 victory at Club Brugge's Jan Breydelstadion, a result the manager hoped would spark a turnaround in the Premier League, where Villa had begun with three defeats and no goals.

Now, with the visit of Fenerbahce on the horizon, Emery is eyeing a first Villa Park triumph of the season to keep that European momentum rolling.