EUROPA League
EUROPEAN FINALS PUT OFF BY UEFA
This season’s Champions League, Europa League and women’s Champions League finals that were originally scheduled for May have been formally postponed because of the global coronavirus pandemic, UEFA have said.
Moreover, unplayed Champions League ties could be reduced to one-leg affairs for the champagne to be concluded.
All three competitions are currently suspended along with all major European domestic leagues, including the big five of England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
European football’s governing body UEFA last week postponed the Euro 2020 tournament until next year.
“No decision has been taken on rearranged dates,” UEFA said in a statement.
It also did not say whether it would be able to complete the competitions in the current format or would have to shorten them. The Champions League was halted halfway through the return legs of the round of 16 with four ties still to be decided.
The final was due to take place in Istanbul on May 30.
UEFA has formed a working group to decide how best to proceed with the competitions and discussions are under way over the rescheduling of fixtures.
Several media reports have suggested Champions League ties could be reduced to one leg instead of two from the quarter-finals with a “final four” mini tournament to decide the winner.
There are, however, a myriad of issues that need to be addressed.
UEFA faces a challenge to hold one-legged ties at neutral venues, which are yet to be found, while there are worldwide travel restrictions in place.
Clubs also have to accept a loss in revenue if games are reduced and broadcasters must agree to air fewer live games than contractually stated.
In the Europa League, whose final was due to be held in Gdansk, Poland, on May 27, two of the last-16 first legs have yet to be played, as well as all of the second legs.
According to the BBC, it has already been agreed that European games can be played on a weekend – they are traditionally held in midweek – and it is also understood there is no longer any requirement for the Champions League to be the last club match of the campaign.
That raises the possibility of the qualifying rounds for the 2020-21 edition starting before the European domestic leagues have concluded.
The epicentre of the contagion has shifted from China to Europe, with the continent seeing over 200,000 infections and more than 10,000 deaths.
REUTERS
Four-times Europa League winner Unai Emery booked an astonishing sixth final in the competition as a manager on Thursday when his Aston Villa team swept aside Nottingham Forest in the second leg of their all-English semi-final.
The 54-year-old Spaniard has won three times with Sevilla (2014, 2015, 2016) and once with Villarreal (2021) – either side of a defeat with Arsenal (2019) – deservedly earning him the epithet “Mr Europa League” from some fans and media.
Now he goes to the 2026 final seeking a fifth title, this time with Aston Villa against Bundesliga side Freiburg.
“His track record speaks for itself,” said Villa striker Ollie Watkins, heaping praise on his boss as the man to guarantee Europa League success. “We need to go and win it now.”
Emery was delighted with how his team overturned a 1-0 deficit to Forest in the first leg of the Europa League semi-final to score four times at home and win 4-1 on aggregate.
“Now we have to look to the final,” he said, hoping that Villa will do “something fantastic” for their fans.
Though thrilled at Thursday’s win, Emery left the pitch quickly after the final whistle, pumping his fist a few times at the crowd before letting his players enjoy the moment with fans
He and his Villa side will be favourites at the Europa League final in Istanbul on May 20, but Emery was taking nothing for granted. “Of course German teams are so difficult, their coaches, their players are so good,” he added of the upcoming opponents.
-Reuters
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List of teams which have qualified for the next round of the Europa League after the league phase concluded on Thursday, ranked by table position:
Directly to the round of 16:
1. Olympique Lyonnais (France)
2. Aston Villa (England)
3. Midtjylland (Denmark)
4. Real Betis (Spain)
5. Porto (Portugal)
6. Braga (Portugal)
7. Freiburg (Germany)
8. AS Roma (Italy)
Knockout phase play-off places (seeded)
9. Genk (Belgium)
10. Bologna (Italy)
11. VfB Stuttgart (Germany)
12. Ferencvaros (Hungary)
13. Nottingham Forest (England)
14. Viktoria Plzen (Czech Republic)
15. Red Star Belgrade (Serbia)
16. Celta Vigo (Spain)
Knockout phase play-off places (unseeded)
17. PAOK (Greece)
18. Lille (France)
19. Fenerbahce (Turkey)
20. Panathinaikos (Greece)
21. Celtic (Scotland)
22. Ludogorets (Bulgaria)
23. Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia)
24. SK Brann (Norway)
-Reuters
UEFA Europa League – Aston Villa v RB Salzburg – Villa Park, Birmingham, Britain – January 29, 2026 Aston
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Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv will not accept any away fan tickets for their Europa League match at Aston Villa next month, even if local authorities reverse the decision to ban their supporters, they said on Monday.
The ban followed safety concerns raised by British Police, who cited potential protests outside Villa Park, following demonstrations at Israel’s recent World Cup qualifiers in Oslo and Udine.
“From hard lessons learned we have taken the decision to decline any allocation offered on behalf of away fans and our decision should be understood in that context,” Maccabi said in a statement.
“We hope that circumstances will change and look forward to being able to play in Birmingham in a sporting environment in the near future.”
Aston Villa announced the decision last week, saying they were following instructions from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), who are responsible for issuing safety certificates for games at Villa Park.
West Midlands Police described the match as high risk, past incidents, including violent confrontations and hate crime offences involving Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters ahead of a November 2024 game in Amsterdam.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described the announcement as “shameful”.
Villa are third in the Europa League standings while Maccabi Tel Aviv are 30th after two rounds.
-Reuters
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