When Unai Emery arrived at Villa Park in November 2022, before his first game against Manchester United, Villa were languishing in 17th place in the League. A 3-1 win made our intentions clear, and for the rest of the season we saw a massive upturn in fortune. At the end of a season which we started with not much hope, perhaps even expecting to be down among the weeds, we scraped into the Conference League.
The following season saw a big run – Villa reached their first European Semi-Finals since winning the European Cup in 1982. Despite losing out to eventual winners Olympiakos, domestically Villa finished 4th in the Premier League and qualified for European Premier competition for first time since 1983.
Last season saw some wonderful results including beating Bayern Munich at home – a night no Villa fan can forget – and some vital wins at Young Boys and RB Leipzig in league stages, finishing in the top 8 and making it straight to last 16. A revenge victory over Club Brugge set up a mouth washing quarter-final clash with PSG.
After taking the lead, a 3-1 defeat at PSG in the first leg, left it all to do for second leg. Still optimism was high as Villa were unbeaten at Villa Park in the Champions League all season. Falling 2-0 behind and 5-1 down on aggregate, it was all over or was it? Villa fought back to lead 3-2 and we just needed one more to draw level. Despite many chances, it wasn’t to be. Not to be – this time – but a campaign to be proud of. Another night to remember.
Despite many great moments in the Premier League in the 24/25 season, Aston Villa just missed out on a second successive season in the Champions League on goal difference. But ok, now for the 3rd part of the European adventure, in the Europa League.
Europa League
This will be Aston Villa’s first season in the group/league stage since the old Uefa Cup was rebranded as Europa League in 2009/10 season. Two successive losses to Rapid Vienna, the last in 2010, saw us begin a 13 year exile from European Football.
Aston Villa may not had much luck in Europa League in the past but this is a competition that Unai Emery thrives in. He has won the trophy four times in five finals including 3 in a row with Sevilla (2014-16) and then with Villarreal in 2021.
OK we’ve not had the best start to the season but there still a promising squad, and with Unai in charge, anything is possible!
When Is The Draw?
The Europa League Draw will take place tomorrow at 12pm. Villa will be in pot 1 with 8 other teams, 36 in total. Aston Villa can play all but one side in the competition which will include Roma, Porto and the Old Firm duo Celtic and Rangers. The obvious exception is fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest, who return to play in Europe after a 30 year absence.
The full fixture list will be announced on Saturday.
When Will League Fixtures Take Place?
Matchday 1: 24/25th September
Matchday 2: 2nd October
Matchday 3: 23rd October
Matchday 4: 6th November
Matchday 5: 27th November
Matchday 6: 11th December
Matchday 7: 22nd January 2026
Matchday 8: 29th January 2026
So a lot to look forward to, plenty of European trips and a chance of making it 3rd time lucky for Unai’s Villa. A chance of winning silverware for the first time in 30 years and a return to the Champions League. I’m feeling hopeful, are you Lions?
There will be special European throwback on the match weeks on this website, looking back at all the highs and lows of previous European campaigns for Aston Villa.