Europa League 2025-26

[cdbearsfan]

I think I would rather play Celta Vigo than Lille anyway after finding out "always scores against Villa" Giroud plays for the latter. And playing Bologna or Forest again would be dull as fuck.

[Somniloquism]

So are we silver or orange?

Edit: they have only bracketed the eight lower ranked teams. What's the point of that?

So they can still have two draws probably.

[cdbearsfan]

Let's just beat everyone. We're Villa, there are no hard draws.

Have you just woken up from March 1996?

Sit down, I've got some bad news.

[cdbearsfan]

So are we silver or orange?

Edit: they have only bracketed the eight lower ranked teams. What's the point of that?

So they can still have two draws probably.

I get it, I just don't see what you gain from spreading the draw over two days. Just do the draw tomorrow.

[cdbearsfan]

Anyway, if we get Celta Vigo we can't get an incredibly dull draw with Bologna again or Forest, then. Is that right? If so bring on Celta Vigo.

[Somniloquism]

Well hard to draw the play-off team matches tomorrow!

I can't remember last years draw and whether it was all done at the same time as the play-offs draw, but I suspect they maybe wanted to split it down to reduce the sizes of the show and/or the guest invites.

[Somniloquism]

Anyway, if we get Celta Vigo we can't get an incredibly dull draw with Bologna again or Forest, then. Is that right? If so bring on Celta Vigo.

Well no guarantee those will be the other opponents as there are still the other 6 of the top 8 to draw, none of who we have played before I believe.

[cdbearsfan]

Still, as far as I can see they're the only boring opponents... apart from Celta Vigo and Lille. ☹️

[PeterWithesShin]

We've never played Forest in Europe, so that would be new and exciting.

[Andy_Lochhead_in_the_air]

If it's Celta I can guarantee the ref will be better than the last time we played them.

InterToto Cup semi-final, second leg
Aston Villa 1 Celta Vigo 2
(Celta win 3-1 on aggregate)
Referee Dieter Schock took centre stage as Aston Villa's European challenge was brought to a grinding halt by Spain's Celta Vigo.

The Swiss official sent off three players, produced a total of 13 yellow cards - six inside the first 30 minutes - as well as awarding two penalties, one of which was highly debatable.

He also blew for full time two minutes early and had to be told to resume play by one of his assistants.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/863863.stm

[cdbearsfan]

Every time we have played Forest, it has been in Europe.

[PeterWithesShin]

Every time we have played Forest, it has been in Europe.

We played them in America.

[cdbearsfan]

Meh, not even a real place.

[Somniloquism]

If it's Celta I can guarantee the ref will be better than the last time we played them.

InterToto Cup semi-final, second leg
Aston Villa 1 Celta Vigo 2
(Celta win 3-1 on aggregate)
Referee Dieter Schock took centre stage as Aston Villa's European challenge was brought to a grinding halt by Spain's Celta Vigo.

The Swiss official sent off three players, produced a total of 13 yellow cards - six inside the first 30 minutes - as well as awarding two penalties, one of which was highly debatable.

He also blew for full time two minutes early and had to be told to resume play by one of his assistants.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/863863.stm

Not sure which one was highly debatable for the penalties. Red cards were weird though. First one was for time-wasting on only 26 mins. Taylors was so weird as the "dive" was 40 yards out of the area and was just him trying to avoid an injury rather then trying to claim a foul, especially as his pass put Merson through. Thompsons was just stupid frustration at the end.

[eamonn]

If we get Roma can we send Leon Bailey back to them and insist he plays ?