Aston Villa and Unai Emery handed nightmare Opta reveal at the worst possible time

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery may be looking ahead to their next five games with an ounce of fear.

The Villans' squad oversaw plenty of change this summer, and ultimately things have yet to click.

Villa did enter the international break on the high of their first win of the season, but the truth is they have just four points from five games.

Last season's rise up the table, following a similar opening five games, will provide hope in B6.

But history repeating itself may not be as easy as it seems.

Aston Villa have been handed no favours in their next five games, with Opta depicting a nightmare run.

How hard are Aston Villa's next five games?

Emery will have little room to breathe, with life at Villa Park showing no signs of getting any easier.

Villa have been stated to have the third-worst set of fixtures over the next five games, according to Opta.

The only sides above them are Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. Brighton have the same difficulty as the Villa Park side.

Across those games, Emery's side face Brentford, Newcastle, Manchester City, Fulham and Manchester United.

Games against the Geordies and the Red Devils are both away, but the home advantage has seemingly not helped reduce the difficulty rating.

Using points per match according to Transfermarkt, and adding Emery's them together when facing all five, the Spaniard's history depicts a total of just 7.94 earned from a possible 15.

Of course, that would be marginal gain from what they picked up from their previous five fixtures, but it is still hardly an optimistic outlook.

Why fixture difficulty could not have worse timing for Aston Villa

You play everyone twice in the Premier League, but momentum can be a strange force in football.

So, being handed some "easier" games can end up changing a campaign.

Aston Villa could certainly have done with a more favourable run of fixtures given how poorly they have started this season.

Coming up against some of the Premier League's most in-form teams is hardly a desirable outcome following what has happend so far.

And this weekend's opponents may be the worst team to start this run with.

Opta have shared that Brentford have only spent one per cent of their matches in a losing position.

So, pressure and fear could continue to build if the Bees manage to hold out against Villa in a similar fashion.

Emery, though, has been boosted by Brian Madjo's possible return against Brentford, with fans eager to see the 18-year-old gem back in action.

Let's hope this run can get going with a win.