Alan Shearer sums up Aston Villa's Champions League ticket row in one word

Alan Shearer has had his say on Aston Villa's chances of going far in this season's Champions League

Alan Shearer says it's a good thing for English football that Aston Villa broke up the 'big six' following Newcastle United's league success in the previous campaign, but admits it's a shame the club has priced Champions League home tickets so expensively.

After beating BSC Young Boys 3-0 at the Wankdorf Stadium, Villa will now play back-to-back home games in the Champions League against Bayern Munich and Bologna. Juventus await in late November, while Villa will host Celtic for their final league phase game.

Tickets for the Bayern game sold out in record time for a cup fixture, but the club received a backlash for their pricing policy. Villa supporters who are season ticket holders in zones one and two will pay £79, while those in zones three and four will pay £70. Those prices increase by £15 per zone if you're not a season ticket holder. In the 1888 Suite, where there are no concession tickets, every fan will pay £97, while it'll set back season ticket holders by £82.

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Newcastle struggled in their Champions League group last term after playing six games - against Borussia Dortmund, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain home and away, but Unai Emery's side will play against eight different opponents in the new UEFA format. Toon legend Shearer admits he can feel the buzz at Villa despite the backlash the club received over home ticket prices.

"Aston Villa’s Champions League campaign got underway this week, and let’s not forget we are talking about a former European Cup winning side," Shearer told Betfair. "With Newcastle getting in last season, and now Villa, it is a good thing for English football.

"Whether one of those two can break into the top four this year again, we'll have to wait and see, but without doubt you can hear and feel the excitement at Aston Villa.

"I know there's an issue with the ticket prices at Aston Villa which is a shame, but for the players and the football club there'll be a great buzz because all their hard work from last year has now begun. That's what they all played for last season, to get into the Champions League."

Villa had two goals ruled out by VAR in their win at the Wankdorf Stadium on Tuesday as Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran were both denied after handballs. Shearer believes Villa's firepower will be crucial to their chances of going far in the competition.

"It was interesting and perfect timing for Ollie Watkins to get his first couple of Premier League goals for the season vs Everton. That'll be a huge confidence boost for him going into this weekend, and he'll be desperate to take that confidence into the Champions League every other week throughout the season.

"Villa will need him to be firing to do well in the Champions League. He's played international football, but the Champions League is different at times. The feeling's different, the atmosphere is different, and the travelling abroad just changes things ever so slightly.

"If Ollie Watkins has a good campaign in front of goal, then we'll see what Aston Villa can do with the new format, compared to the old group stages.

"Villa have a bigger squad than they did last year, albeit they had to sell Douglas Luiz, which they probably didn't want to, but they brought in other players to cover.

"They're going to have to rely on their squad because the manager will have to rotate at some stage because the games being played are so intense across the Premier League and Champions League."

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