Hansi Flick admits he is not surprised by the doubts surrounding Barcelona's chances of winning the Champions League this season.

Barca are eighth in the league phase after three games, thrashing Feyenoord and Galatasaray before losing to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain last time out.

The Blaugrana are on the longest current run without a clean sheet of any team in this season's Champions League (18 games).

However, their average of 2.97 goals per game in the competition under Flick is Barca's highest under any manager (86 goals in 29 matches).

Next up for Barca in the Champions League is a clash against last season's Europa League winners, Aston Villa.

When asked if he was surprised by the doubts surrounding Barca, Flick said: "No. It's the reality.

"We have to prove it; things are what they are. We've played our best football, we know it. There are no excuses.

"The results could be different, but I think we're playing at the same level as Real Madrid or PSG. I don't like to dwell on the past.

"We have to look at Aston Villa and then Atletico Madrid. We have enormous quality, and our objectives are to win La Liga and the Champions League. Nothing has changed after these two defeats.

"In football, it's normal to focus on these things. It's more interesting to talk about defeats and weaknesses."

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This will be the first meeting between Barca and Villa since the Super Cup (played over two legs) in January 1983, which was won 3-1 on aggregate by the Villans (lost 1-0 away, won 3-0 at home).

Villa have led for more minutes than any other team in the Champions League this season (240:09), while they are one of only three teams yet to trail at any point, and Flick had high praise for his counterpart, Unai Emery.

"For me, he's one of the best coaches in the world, with a lot of success," Flick said about Emery.

"The way his team is playing, they have a clear structure. You see how they take set-pieces, and it's incredible, the confidence they have.

"It's going to be a tough match against a great team and a great coach."