Aston Villa are poised to conclude the league phase of their Europa League journey on Thursday evening as they welcome Austrian side RB Salzburg to Villa Park. Despite having already secured their passage to the round of 16, there remains a significant amount at stake for Unai Emery's team, with final positioning in the standings carrying substantial implications for the knockout stages ahead.
Current standings and what's at play
Heading into this decisive fixture, Aston Villa occupy second place in the Europa League table with 18 points, level with leaders Lyon but trailing by four goals on goal difference. This position has been achieved through victories against Bologna, Feyenoord, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Young Boys, Basel, and Fenerbahçe, alongside a surprising defeat to Go Ahead Eagles.
Potential finishing positions and their consequences
A triumph on home soil against Salzburg could propel Villa into top spot, provided Lyon drop points in their concurrent match against PAOK at the Groupama Stadium. Alternatively, Villa could overtake Lyon by overcoming the five-goal differential if they secure a substantial victory.
Conversely, a defeat combined with favourable results for Freiburg, Midtjylland, Braga, Roma, and Ferencváros could see Villa slide as low as seventh in the final standings. Regardless of this outcome, Emery's squad have already guaranteed their progression to the round of 16, avoiding the need for a play-off match.
Importance of league positioning
Mirroring the format introduced in the Champions League, the Europa League now places heightened importance on final league positions. Teams finishing within the top four will enjoy second-leg home advantage in both the round of 16 and quarter-final ties, while those in the top two will retain this benefit for the semi-final second legs.
Clubs positioned between ninth and 24th will not gain automatic entry to the round of 16, instead requiring victory in a play-off match to advance further in the competition. This structural change adds considerable weight to Villa's final group stage performance.
Potential round of 16 opponents
Should the table remain unchanged after Thursday's matches, Aston Villa could face one of several clubs in the next phase. The list of potential opponents includes Porto, Genk, Crvena Zvezda, PAOK, VfB Stuttgart, Celta Vigo, Bologna, Nottingham Forest, Viktoria Plzeň, Fenerbahçe, Panathinaikos, Dinamo Zagreb, LOSC, Brann, Young Boys, and Celtic.
Additionally, Ludogorets, Feyenoord, Basel, RB Salzburg, FCSB, and Go Ahead Eagles could still break into the top 24 depending on results, while Rangers, SK Sturm Graz, Nice, Utrecht, Malmö, and Maccabi Tel-Aviv have been eliminated regardless of their final match outcomes.
Key dates for the knockout phase
The Europa League schedule for the forthcoming rounds is as follows:
- Play-off draw: 30 January 2026
- Knockout phase play-offs: 19 & 26 February 2026
- Round of 16: 12 & 19 March 2026
- Quarter-finals: 9 & 16 April 2026
- Semi-finals: 30 April & 7 May 2026
- Final: 20 May 2026 (Istanbul)
As Villa prepare for their final group encounter, the focus remains on securing the most advantageous position possible to facilitate a deep run in Europe's secondary club competition under Unai Emery's stewardship.
