Coventry City and Aston Villa are set to clash in the third round of the Carabao Cup, with both teams looking to turn around their fortunes after rocky starts in the Premier League this season. The match will take place at 2:00 AM on September 17, 2026 (Vietnam time).

Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard, has had a challenging return to the Premier League after winning the Championship last season. Unfortunately, they have yet to secure a point in the league and have failed to score a goal, conceding ten in the process. Their recent defeat against Brighton, which saw Taiwo Awoniyi receive a red card, has compounded their struggles, marking the first time since 1919 that the club has lost all four opening matches of the season. However, the Carabao Cup has provided a glimmer of hope, with Awoniyi scoring in a 4-2 victory over Plymouth Argyle in the previous round, allowing Coventry to progress to this stage.

On the other hand, Aston Villa, under the management of Unai Emery, has not fared much better in the Premier League. After a triumphant Europa League campaign that ended in victory last season, Villa has only managed to earn a single point from their opening matches. Their latest setback was a 1-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, which followed a hard-fought 3-2 win against Club Brugge in the Champions League. Villa's inconsistent performance has raised concerns, but they are eager to advance in the Carabao Cup, aiming for their second fourth-round appearance in six seasons.

This match marks the first time Coventry and Aston Villa will meet in the Carabao Cup. The last encounter in a knockout format occurred nearly 28 years ago when Villa edged out Coventry 1-0 in the FA Cup. Both teams will be looking to seize this opportunity to not only progress in the tournament but also to regain some much-needed confidence.

Expected line-ups for the match include:

• Coventry City: Bentley, Latibeaudiere, Thomas, Mfuni, Van Ewijk, Grimes, Torp, Dasilva, Tchaouna, Hamer, Cherif.
• Aston Villa: Bizot, Wan-Bissaka, Harwood-Bellis, Mings, Ruggeri, Bogarde, Kamara, McGinn, Buendia, Mbaye, Abraham.