ANDONI Iraola knows what to expect from Unai Emery’s Aston Villa – but knows his side must be close to their best to get something from the game.

The Cherries travel to Birmingham on Saturday, October 26 to face Champions League Villa at Villa Park.

Fourth-placed Villa have been on flying form this season, and sit atop the UEFA Champions League standings too, after winning each of their three games in the competition this term.

But the Cherries come into the game with confidence of their own, having deservedly beaten Arsenal 2-0 last weekend.

On Villa’s threat and the confidence they have from their recent form, Iraola told the Daily Echo: “I think you can see, you can feel that they are very confident because they are performing well and the results show that they are one of the best teams.

“They've lost one game this season against Arsenal in August, in all the competitions.

(Image: PA) “They are beating top teams and if you want to beat them, you have to do an amazing game, because also they had some games where they haven't started well.

“Fulham the other day, Everton, they concede the first goal and they come, score three goals, they turned the game.

“So, it's a team that you can see from the outside are full of confidence right now. But I think we can be in a good moment and let's see if we are able to put them under pressure.”

On the tactical test his Cherries side will face against Emery’s team, Iraola knows what to expect from their hosts and is under no illusions how tough the game will be.

“I think they do very well the things they do,” Iraola said.

“It’s not that they change a lot tactically, we more or less expect what they are going to do. I think they expect what we are going to do.

(Image: Richard Crease) “The games have been more or less very similar, and I don't think we are going to change a lot, and they are going to change a lot.

“So we will need to be very good in the things that we almost know they are going to happen.”

Iraola said the difficult part is not working out what the Villans will do but stopping them from doing it.

For instance, speaking about the runs striker Ollie Watkins makes into spaces in behind the defence, Iraola said: “You have to follow the run, you have to fight against him, one against one.

“You have to win the duel. And this is much more difficult.”

AFC Bournemouth travel to Aston Villa on Saturday, October 26, with a 3pm kick off.