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Aston Villa are targeting Europa League revival after slow start to Premier League season

Author | Peter Grainger 

Stadium | Villa Park

Aston Villa v Newcastle United | August 2025

Yet to register a domestic win this season, Aston Villa appear weighed down by the after-effects of their near miss with Champions League qualification and a frustrating summer in the transfer market.

A 1-1 draw with 10-man Sunderland last weekend at least brought their first Premier League goal at the fifth attempt, Matty Cash’s deflected strike breaking the drought, but their wait for a victory continues.

Two defeats and two draws in the league had already set an uneasy tone, and a penalty shootout loss to Brentford in the EFL Cup left Villa sitting second-bottom of the table.

European competition could therefore offer respite. Last season’s memorable run in the Champions League, their first appearance at Europe’s top level for more than 40 years, ended only at the quarter-final stage against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain.

That achievement underpinned a sixth-place Premier League finish and earned Villa a return to the Europa League for the first time since 2008. Twice before, in 1978 and 1998, they had reached the quarter-finals of the competition when it was still the UEFA Cup.

Unai Emery’s pedigree in the tournament is unrivalled, with four titles to his name, and Villa’s group stage assignment looks manageable. Their task now is to find the form to match those expectations.

Team News

Having criticised his side as 'lazy' after their lacklustre draw with Sunderland, Emery is expected to make changes for Aston Villa's Europa League opener.

Midfield options could be limited, with Amadou Onana and Youri Tielemans sidelined through injury, Ross Barkley ineligible, and Boubacar Kamara only just returning.

In attack, loanees Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho are likely to start, while Donyell Malen could replace the out-of-form Ollie Watkins.