Rodri’s Aston Villa record sets the stage for Barcelona’s Champions League meeting

Rodri has scored only 41 goals in more than 500 professional appearances for his clubs and Spain, but Aston Villa have consistently brought out the Barcelona midfielder’s goalscoring best.

The 30-year-old has represented Villarreal, Atletico Madrid, Manchester City and Barcelona during his club career, while also playing for the Spain national team. For a defensive midfielder whose primary responsibility is to control games and organise play, that return is considered respectable, according to Mundo Deportivo.

However, his record against Aston Villa stands out. The English side are, by a considerable distance, the opponent against whom Rodri has been most effective in front of goal.

Aston Villa will visit Barcelona on Tuesday, 03 November 2026, in the fourth round of the league phase of the Champions League.

Rodri has scored five times against Villa and has also provided two assists in those meetings. Three of his goals have come from headers, including the one that helped Manchester City beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the English League Cup in March 2020, a result that contributed to City winning the competition.

His other goals against the club have all come in the Premier League. Across nine meetings with Aston Villa, Rodri has won eight and drawn one, remaining unbeaten.

The contrast is particularly notable when compared with Anthony Gordon’s record against the same opponents.

Gordon has faced Aston Villa 12 times, making them the second-most frequent opponent of his career, behind only Manchester City, whom he has played 13 times. Those appearances came while he was with Everton and Newcastle.

Yet the 25-year-old winger has scored just once against Villa. His only goal came in the Premier League during the 2024-2025 season, when Newcastle won 3-0.

Gordon has supplied one assist in his matches against Aston Villa, but his overall results are less favourable than Rodri’s. He has won four of those 12 games, losing six and drawing two.

As Barcelona prepare to host Aston Villa in the Champions League, Rodri’s unusual scoring record against the English club will be one of the individual statistics attracting attention.