Aston Villa star hoping lightning strikes twice against Juventus

Now the defender has sights on making it a double and digging Villa out of their current malaise.

Torres was among the scorers when Villarreal beat Juve 3-0 in Turin to claim a 4-1 aggregate win in a 2022 quarter-final, the moment ranking among the proudest of his career.

And while the 27-year-old Spain international was quick to pain tonight’s visitors as favourites, in a tie which is a rematch of the 1983 European Cup quarter-final, he is confident Villa have what it takes to claim another major scalp,

“We are in a good way in the Champions League this season,” said Torres. “We started really well, though of course we lost a good opportunity against Brugge. 

“But here at home we are feeling comfortable. We know like Bayern Munich that Juventus are favourites for tomorrow but we also know if we are in our highest level and focused 100 per cent we can beat them. So we’re trying to get that win.

“When we beat Juventus in the Champions League with Villarreal it was a really good moment for me as a player and it was my first time playing in this competition. 

“We beat them and got through to the next round. It was a great moment, I enjoyed it a lot with my old team and I have good memories.”

Villa have already created one famous moment in this year’s competition courtesy of last month’s win over Bayern Munich but their 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge halted their momentum, after three victories in their opening three matches had sent them top of the league phase table.

The defeat in Belgium is part of a six-match winless run which has tempered excitement around Emery’s team but Torres has promised players are working harder than ever to get back on track.

Fixing a defence which has conceded eight goals in the last three Premier League matches has been a key focus, albeit Villa’s record in Europe this season has been close to exemplary, with the only goal they have conceded coming from the penalty given away in bizarre fashion by Tyrone Mings against Brugge.

Torres thinks Villa have caused their own problems by losing possession too easily and allowing too much space between their defence and midfield. 

The Spain hinted opponents may have figured out how best to attack the structure of Emery’s team and said: “It’s something we’re working on. We know all teams know how to attack with the spaces and we need to reduce those options for them. 

“Try to control the forward players, try to not to lose the ball so much. Sometimes we are playing with a lot of spaces in our build up. We need to be alert to our good rest defending and try to correct this. 

“For us inside the dressing room, we know we have work to do and things to correct and analyse with Unai and his staff. But this moment we’re living now only makes us work harder and we want that good dynamic to return.”

Torres also offered words of encouragement to his former Villa team-mate Douglas Luiz. The midfielder’s hopes of an emotional return to Villa Park have been scuppered by injury, though in truth he had struggled to cement his place in the Italian team’s line-up following his £42.5million summer switch.

“I know he’s in a difficult moment but he’s a really good player,” said Torres. “I spoke a lot with him about the club and how he’s feeling there now but for us they’re a winning team with a winning mentality. We know tomorrow will be a difficult game. 

“They are favourites in the beginning but we want to enjoy with our supporters and we will try to beat them.

“It’s a difficult moment for him but I know him as a person and a player and I know he will finish the season playing. He has a lot of quality as a person and a player. He’s not available for tomorrow through injury but I hope for him the best for the rest of the season.”