Aston Villa travel to Turkey to face Fenerbahce
Fresh from last weekend’s setback in the Premier League, Aston Villa will endeavour to return to winning ways when they travel to Turkey to face Fenerbahce in their penultimate League Phase fixture in the Europa League today.
The two teams butt heads for the first time since the first round of the 1977-78 UEFA Cup when Villa claimed an emphatic 6-0 aggregate victory on their way to reaching the quarter-finals.
After winning 11 matches in a row at Villa Park in all competitions and scoring 23 goals in the process, Aston Villa came up short in a disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Everton on Sunday and missed the opportunity to move to within four points of Premier League leaders Arsenal.
Villa are already one of six Europa League teams who are guaranteed at least a knockout round playoff place, as they currently sit third in the 36-team standings.
Emery’s men most recently beat Basel 2-1 in Switzerland on December 11 and Villa will back themselves to claim another three points on Thursday, as they have won four of their previous six encounters with Turkish opposition.
An intriguing contest between two of the Europa League’s strongest teams is set to be played out in Istanbul, and Fenerbahce’s recent run of form should provide them with a real confidence boost in a game that they arguably need to win more than their opponents.
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Roma host Stuttgart in the penultimate round
There is a lot to play for at Stadio Olimpico on Thursday, as Roma host Stuttgart in the penultimate round of the league phase of the Europa League.
While both clubs — placed ninth and 10th in the 36-team standings — are outside the coveted top-eight places, this week’s victor could rise into the automatic qualification positions.
Gian Piero Gasperini‘s side have all but sealed their place in the knockout round playoffs, but the capital club have reason to aim higher, considering the table before matchday seven.
The Giallorossi are 10th in the table, level with Thursday’s opponents, and a point behind seventh-placed Braga and Porto in eighth (both have 13 points).
Their prospects of finishing even higher are bolstered by knowing the top three — Lyon, Midtjylland and Aston Villa — have 15 points and the following clubs — Real Betis, Freiburg and Ferencvaros — have 14.
Victory on home turf at Stuttgart’s expense this week could elevate them in the table, even if fans in the Eternal City will be wary heading into their club’s final match in the capital, given their mixed results at the Olimpico.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Celta Vigo play host to Lille
Two teams experiencing contrasting runs of form meet at Estadio de Balaidos on Thursday night, as Celta Vigo play host to Lille in their penultimate League Phase fixture in the Europa League.
Los Celestes and Les Dogues have never faced each other in a competitive match before, but the latter did claim a 3-1 friendly win over the former in July 2024.
Celta Vigo have made a perfect start to 2026, as they have won three La Liga matches out of three against Valencia, Sevilla and Rayo Vallecano, scoring 11 goals and conceded only one in the process to boost their hopes of securing a top-six finish this season.
In the Europa League, Celta Vigo are down in 19th place in the 36-team standings, level on points and just one place above Thursday’s opponents Lille, after experiencing an inconsistent League Phase campaign to date, winning three and losing three of their first six games.
While securing an automatic last-16 qualification spot is seemingly a tall order for Vigo, as they sit four points behind the top eight with only two games remaining, Claudio Giraldez’s side remain hopeful of sealing a knockout round playoff spot. However, dropping points against Lille would put them in danger of slipping out of the top 24 heading into their final match away against Red Star Belgrade.
Goals are to be expected on Thursday given that five of Celta Vigo’s six Europa League games have seen both teams score this season, while all six have produced at least three goals.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Young Boys and Lyon clash at Stadion Wankdorf
Both looking in shape to qualify for the knockout stages of the Europa League, Young Boys and Lyon clash at Stadion Wankdorf today.
YB have struggled over the festive and January period domestically, whilst Les Gones are aiming to upset the odds at the summit of France’s Ligue 1.
Since a 2-0 home win at Stadion Wankdorf over Luzern on December 14, Young Boys have suffered a three-game losing run in the Swiss Super League, conceding an eye-watering 12 goals across those contests.
Focusing on continental matters for a few days, Young Boys have won three and lost three of their opening six matches in the Europa League, leaving them 21st in the league phase table, two points ahead of 25th-placed Dinamo Zagreb.
A former Championship striker with Hull City in England, Chris Bedia is the star man at the top of the pitch for YB this season, with the Union Berlin loanee netting 12 goals from just 19 Super League contests.
Struggling massively on the domestic scene, Young Boys will be fearing the visit of table toppers Lyon this Thursday.
Les Gones are breezing past French opposition so far in 2026 and should have no issues collecting maximum points at Stadion Wankdorf.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
FIXTURES
Freiburg 17:45 Maccabi Tel Aviv
Malmö FF 17:45 Red Star Belgrade
Young Boys 17:45 Olympique Lyonnais
Ferencváros 20:00 Panathinaikos
Rangers 20:00 Ludogorets Razgrad
