BirminghamLive columnist Tom Ross gives his thoughts on Aston Villa's quest for a European trophy
Unai Emery reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Lille OSC at Villa Park
Unai Emery reacts during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Lille OSC at Villa Park
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The bookies have made Villa clear favourites to win the Europa League trophy, with most of them having them at 7/4, with Porto second favourites at odds of around 4/1.Next up for Unai Emery’s men is a quarter-final tie with Italian club Bologna. It’s no secret that winning a European trophy is high on Emery’s personal wish list. To lift the Europa League trophy would mean his team qualifying for next season’s Champions League, although a top-four finish (or likely top-five) in this season’s Premier League would automatically qualify them as well.They are on course to do just that, which would be a formidable achievement.They are currently five points clear of fifth-placed Liverpool with seven games to go. They have to play the Merseysiders at home on Sunday, May 17 – what a massive six-pointer that could be, unless it’s all sorted before then, of course.Having said that, the complexity of Champions League qualification depends on so many things, but Villa should be one of the English teams competing in the top European competition next season.
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After their poor run in February, they look more confident as injured players such as the influential John McGinn return.No end-of-season look about them as they have so much still to play for with home Premier League games against Sunderland, Spurs, and Liverpool, while they face Forest, Burnley, Fulham, and Manchester City on the road.While, if as expected they safely navigate a win against Bologna, there will be a Europa League two-legged semi-final.The challenge for manager Emery is to use his squad to ensure they are equally strong in league and European games and clinch that Champions League place.
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