Aston Villa look to maintain their perfect start in the UEFA Europa League when they hit the road to face Dutch outfit Go Ahead Eagles.
Unai Emery’s Aston Villa will be looking for their third straight win in the UEFA Europa League when they square up against Go Ahead Eagles at De Adelaarshorst on Thursday night.
The home team have been inconsistent this season as they find themselves 12th on the Eredivisie with just ten points in nine outings. While the pride of the IJssel Kowet started their European campaign with a 1-0 defeat to FCSB, they bounced back with a 2-1 win over Panathinaikos.
Despite not being the dominant team, Go Ahead Eagles came out with the desired result thanks to two late strikes from Milan Smit. Since they have been in mixed form, going up against Aston Villa certainly won’t be that easy.
Unai Emery’s team had a very slow start to the season, but they have slowly picked up the pace. The West Midlands outfit seem to be back at their best, and having won their first two European outings, they are favourites to make it three in a row.
While Aston Villa are 11th in the Premier League, they are third in the Europa League. Having won each of their last five games across competitions, Emery’s men surely will be the team to beat. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Team News & Tactics
Go Ahead Eagles
Having undergone a knee surgery, Victor Edvardsen has now joined Pim Saathof and Soren Tengstedt on the sidelines. Apart from the trio, everyone else should be available for selection, and they could line up in the same XI that they did for their last outing against PSV.
The Dutch outfit will stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Jari De Busser will take charge in goal. Mats Deijl and Dean James will feature as the full-backs, while Gerrit Nauber will partner with Joris Kramer in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Melle Meulensteen and Evert Linthorst will form the double pivot in the centre of the pitch. They will shield the backline and look to ensure Aston Villa midfielders do not dominate proceedings.
Jakob Breum will take up the number ten role, while Mathis Suray and Richonell Margaret will provide much-needed width to their attacks. Milan Smit, who bagged a brace in their last European outing, will lead the line for the Go Ahead Eagles against Aston Villa.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): De Busser; Deijl, Nauber, Kramer, James; Meulensteen, Linthorst; Suray, Breum, Margaret; Smit
Go Ahead Eagles vs Aston Villa Predicted XI
Aston Villa
Having played a cameo last time out, Ollie Watkins should be fully fit to start in the UEFA Europa League clash on Thursday. However, Youri Tielemans remains on the sidelines, while Tyrone Mings’s availability is a major doubt.
The visitors will also line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, where Marco Bizot will feature in goal. Matty Cash and Ian Maatsen will be the full-backs, while Ezri Konsa will pair up with Victor Lindelof in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Amadou Onana will form the double pivot alongside Boubacar Kamara in the centre of the park. The duo will look to dictate the tempo of this fixture.
Emi Buendia will take up the number ten role, while Donyell Malen and John McGinn will feature on the flanks, providing much-needed width to their attacks. Meanwhile, Ollie Watkins will spearhead the Aston Villa attack against Go Ahead Eagles.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Onana, Kamara; Malen, Buendia, McGinn; Watkins
Go Ahead Eagles vs Aston Villa Predicted XI
Key Stats
Aston Villa have won each of their last five outings across competitions.
John McGinn has found the back of the net in each of their last three European outings.
Go Ahead Eagles are gearing up to face an English club in a UEFA competition for the very first time.
Unai Emery’s team have now won 11 out of their last 15 group/league-phase European fixtures.
Aston Villa have an exceptional track record against Dutch opponents, having won five out of their six outings.
Player to Watch
Donyell Malen
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Malen has done a decent job since joining Aston Villa at the start of 2025 from Borussia Dortmund. While he did prove to be a great cover for injured Watkins, the Dutch international only has two goals in his 11 outings so far.
The 26-year-old has only had limited game time, but he would have still hoped to have had a much bigger impact. With him likely to start against Go Ahead Eagles, Malen will be eager to add to his tally and push his case for a more important role under Emery.
Prediction
Go Ahead Eagles 0-3 Aston Villa
Aston Villa head into this fixture full of momentum and confidence after stringing together an impressive run of results across competitions. Unai Emery’s men look sharp in attack and disciplined at the back, and given their European form, they will fancy their chances of making it three wins in a row.
Go Ahead Eagles, meanwhile, have been inconsistent and will face a significant challenge against a well-drilled and in-form Aston Villa side. The Dutch outfit might look to stay compact and hit on the counter, but their defensive frailties could easily be exposed by Villa’s movement and pace in the final third. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-0 win for Emery and his charges.