The Villans narrowly missed out on a spot in Europe’s premier tournament last season as they finished sixth in the Premier League table.

Unai Emery’s troops finished on 66 points, level with Newcastle United. However, the Magpies pipped them to the final Champions League spot on goal difference.

In hindsight, that may have been a blessing in disguise for Villa.

They went into the tournament as one of the favourites and will fancy their chances of going all the way after punching their ticket to the quarter-finals.

Their odds of success are significantly bolstered with Emery at the helm.

The Spaniard is the most successful manager in the history of the competition, winning the title four times, including a historic three-peat with Sevilla between 2014 and 2016.

With that record, it would be silly to write off Villa’s chances, especially considering that a Europa League win automatically grants them a spot in the Champions League.

However, if they fail to do so, Villa could be picked apart at the end of the season, and we’ve highlighted three players who may be poached this summer.

Morgan Rogers

Morgan Rogers has been one of the driving forces of Villa’s top-four push and Europa League challenge.

The England international joined Villa from Middlesbrough in 2024 for an initial £8 million – a deal that now looks like one of the bargains of the century.

Rogers has since morphed into a talisman in the final third and one of the most dangerous attacking players in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old has bagged 10 goals and seven assists in 43 appearances across  all competitions. This comes after notching 14 goals and 16 assists in 54 games last term.

Rogers has become one of the most in-demand attacking players in the Premier League and is already attracting interest from Chelsea.

Villa will fight tooth and nail to retain his services after tying him to a new five-year deal in November last year. But they may be powerless to stop a big-money exit without Champions League football.

Ollie Watkins

Ollie Watkins came close to joining Arsenal last summer, but the move never materialised, forcing the Gunners to splash around £55m on Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres.

However, there are rumblings across the football world that the Gunners may be open to bringing in another striker this summer and could potentially revive their interest in Watkins.

The 30-year-old has been a shadow of his prolific self this campaign, but remains one of Emery’s trusted players. He has gradually repaid the manager’s faith by sparking into life in the second half of the season.

After scoring just three times in the first 17 fixtures, Watkins seemed to have recaptured his goalscoring mojo when he bagged four goals in six games between late December and late January.

However, the goals have dried up over the past few weeks, with Watkins going six Premier League games without scoring.

Despite his shaky form, Watkins is reportedly attracting interest from Manchester United.

Amadou Onana

Like Watkins, Amadou Onana has also been linked with a big-money move to United, particularly with Casemiro set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the season.

The Red Devils have a longstanding interest in Onana and have been monitoring his development since his Everton days. Villa may have beaten them to the punch, but United haven’t given up on Onana.

Since joining from Everton in the summer of 2024, Onana has been a lynchpin in the Villa midfield.

The Belgium international has made 30 appearances this season and is also a key part of Villa’s Champions League push.

It remains to be seen if United will act on their interest, but Onana is a high-value target, and Villa will likely have a fight on their hands this summer.

But they face competition from Nottingham Forest, who have entered the race for the 28-year-old, 

According to Turkish reporter Ertan Suzgun, Forest are ready to meet Abraham’s personal terms for a deal. 

But the English striker has a clear preference to join Villa if he is allowed to leave Besiktas this month. 

Abraham spent the 2018-19 season on loan at the Midlands club, netting 26 goals in 40 appearances to help them secure Premier League promotion. 

But re-signing him would be complicated as he is on loan at Besiktas from AS Roma.

The move will be made permanent for £11.2 million if certain conditions are met. 

The striker’s wages could also be a stumbling block as he is currently earning around £115,000 per week. 

Villa have had an excellent 2025-26 campaign so far. They are third in the table after winning nine of their previous 11 Premier League matches. 

Unai Emery’s side are keen to re-sign Abraham to keep their title challenge alive. 

The former Chelsea star is a top forward who is well known for his physical presence, movement and finishing ability. 

He has struck 12 goals in 24 matches for Besiktas this term. 

Villa have paved the way for the 28-year-old’s return, as Donyell Malen has joined Roma on a six-month loan with a £25 million obligation to buy at the end of the season. 

Operating as a winger as well as a centre-forward, Malen made 21 Premier League appearances this season for the Midlands side. But 16 of them came off the bench. 

The Netherlands international wanted more game time and his move to the Serie A will likely offer him greater first-team opportunities. 

Ollie Watkins is currently Villa’s number one striker, but he has had an underwhelming campaign so far. 

Stats from Transfermarkt 

They will kick start their new campaign against Newcastle United at Villa Park on Saturday. 

Match Preview 

Unai Emery’s side failed to secure a spot in Europe’s elite competition following their 2-0 defeat at Manchester United on the final day of last season. 

They aim to finish in the top-four this term but competition looks fierce with many teams vying for the limited spots. 

Villa also have had an underwhelming summer transfer window, making their task even more difficult. 

Marco Bizot and Yasin Ozan have joined the club, but Evann Guessand has been their only high-profile arrival so far. 

The Midlands outfit lost their first two pre-season games before completing an unbeaten US tour. 

They then claimed an emphatic 4-0 victory over Roma, but lost to Marseille before triumphing over Villarreal. 

On the other hand, Newcastle have also endured a tough summer since securing fifth place in the Premier League. 

They missed out on a long list of transfer targets, while star striker Alexander Isak is pushing to leave St James’ Park amid huge interest from Liverpool. 

The pre-season results have also not been encouraging for them, with the Tyneside club failing to win any of their club friendlies. 

Team News 

Villa will be missing Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia as the duo are recovering from their injury issues. Morgan Rogers is also struggling with an ankle problem, while Emiliano Martinez must serve a suspension following his red card at Man Utd last season. 

As for Newcastle, Isak is unlikely to be part of the team amid speculation over his future. Joe Willock has also been sidelined by an Achilles injury. 

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United potential line-ups 

Aston Villa: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Malen, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins

Newcastle United: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes

Aston Villa vs Newcastle United prediction 

Villa’s transfer business has not been very encouraging, but they still boast plenty of quality in their ranks. And given they will be playing in front of their home crowd, they should prevail against Newcastle on Saturday. 

Aston Villa 1-0 Newcastle United 

The Villans’ offer has been turned down by the French club, but discussions continue between the two clubs. 

Unai Emery’s side have not been very active in the transfer window this summer. 

Restricted by the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules, they have not made any marquee additions so far. 

Yasin Ozcan has arrived at Villa Park for €7 million, while Zepiqueno Redmond and Marco Bizot have also joined them. 

However, Villa could make some quality additions to bolster their squad as they prepare for their Europa League campaign next season. 

They have a strong interest in Canvot, who is one of the best talents to come out of Toulouse’s academy. 

After impressing with his performances for the youth teams, the France Under-21 international made his first-team debut in September 2024 against Brest. 

He enjoyed a breakout 2024-25 campaign, featuring in 20 matches across all competitions. 

Canvot has a contract with Toulouse until 2029, but a good offer from Villa could tempt them into selling their prized asset. 

The Frenchman is highly rated for his versatility, as he can operate as a centre-back as well as a defensive midfielder. He is also strong in one-on-one duels and has the physicality to thrive in a top football league. 

The defender is very young and there is a lot of room for improvement in his game through good coaching. 

Moving to Villa would be a big step up for Canvot, but he will likely have to show patience in the beginning for first-team opportunities. 

Stats from Transfermarkt 

The Lions recently suffered an embarrassing FA Cup elimination after a 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the semi-final at Wembley. 

Unai Emery’s men are now firmly focused on securing a top-five finish in the Premier League to qualify for next season’s Champions League. 

Villa will look to pick up maximum points from their final fixtures of the campaign, but they will also have an eye on the summer transfer window.

It is expected the Midlands outfit will sell players to help fund new signings and comply with financial rules. 

According to The Telegraph, Martinez and Bailey are lined up for moves to Saudi Arabia. 

The Lions sold Jhon Duran to Al-Nassr in January, while Moussa Diaby left the club for Al-Ittihad last summer. 

But unidentified Saudi sides want to raid Villa again for transfers in the next window. 

Martinez has won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina and has been named The Best FIFA Goalkeeper twice. 

He has been a key player under Emery and has started 33 Premier League matches this campaign. 

The 32-year-old’s performances have been impressive in 2024-25, but he has been at fault for some important goals in the Champions League and FA Cup against Paris Saint-Germain and Palace respectively. 

Martinez has a contract at Villa Park until 2029, having penned a five-year extension last summer. He is currently one of the highest paid players on the books of the English team. 

Meanwhile, Bailey has been on the fringes of the squad this season due to poor form and injury issues. 

The 27-year-old has made 23 top-flight appearances, but nine of them came off the bench. 

His contract will not expire until 2027, but Villa are expected to listen to offers for the winger this summer. 

Stats from Transfermarkt

The West Midlands outfit face a monumental task at Villa Park, having lost 3-1 to PSG at the Parc des Princes.

Match Preview

Villa made a superb start to the away clash last week, with Morgan Rogers firing in the opener on 35 minutes.

But Desire Doue produced a moment of magic to quickly restore parity before Khvicha Kvaratskhelia unleashed an unstoppable shot to put them ahead after the break.

Nuno Mendes netted a crucial third to ensure a big advantage for Luis Enrique’s side in the quarter-final tie.

The Lions bounced back to register a 3-0 success over relegated Southampton in Saturday’s Premier League encounter.

Unai Emery’s men could not breach the opposition’s defences for the opening 70 minutes before strikes from Ollie Watkins, John McGinn and Donyell Malen led them to a comfortable victory at St Mary’s Stadium.

On the other hand, PSG enjoyed a weekend with no domestic football.

The Parisians have already sealed the Ligue 1 title with six matches remaining following their 1-0 triumph over Angers earlier this month.

Enrique’s side have been excellent this campaign and may finally win the European Cup that has eluded them so far.

Team News

Aston Villa don’t have a lot of injury woes for Tuesday’s fixture, with Leon Bailey the only expected absentee against Madrid. Emery made a few changes to the team against Southampton, but he will likely restore his best team for the European match.

As for PSG, Enrique also has the luxury to choose from a fully-fit squad. Captain Marquinhos missed the first leg due to suspension but he is available for selection against the Lions.

Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain potential line-ups

Aston Villa: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Torres, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Rogers, McGinn, Rashford; Watkins

Paris Saint-Germain: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Doue, Dembele, Kvaratskhelia

How to Watch?

Enjoy all the action from the Champions League via online live streams.

Aston Villa vs Paris Saint-Germain prediction

The Midlands side boast an impressive record at Villa Park, having avoided defeat in each of their previous 17 games across all competitions at the venue. Emery’s men are expected to win on Tuesday, but we don’t think they can overturn the massive deficit from the first leg.

Aston Villa 2-1 Paris Saint-Germain (PSG win 4-3 aggregate)

The most recent meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw, suggesting a competitive match ahead for football fans.

Match Preview

Aston Villa have been enjoying an excellent run of form lately, with the Midlands outfit recording four wins and a draw in their previous five games in all competitions.

Unai Emery’s side cruised to a resounding 3-0 victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League last time out, clinching a quarter-final spot with Paris Saint-Germain.

January signing Marco Asensio was the standout performer for the Lions as he came off the bench in the second-half to bag a brilliant brace in between Ian Maatsen’s 57th-minute strike.

Villa now turn their focus to the FA Cup, a competition they haven’t won since 1957.

They have beaten West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur and Cardiff City along the way and now face Preston in the last-eight.

The Lancashire outfit have had a competitive season so far, and they are now sitting in a mid-table position in the Championship.

They stunned Burnley in the fifth round of the FA Cup to make it thus far, beating their city rivals 3-0 to knock them out of the competition.

Team News

Preston will not be able to call upon the services of Josh Seary, as he has been out with a knee issue since November.

On the other hand, Aston Villa have been missing Ross Barkley since January when he picked up a knock against West Ham United in the FA Cup third-round. But the former Everton star is reportedly nearing a return and could be involved in Sunday’s fixture.

Preston North End vs Aston Villa potential line-ups

Preston North End: Woodman; Kesler-Hayden, Porteous, Lindsay, Gibson, Meghoma; Ledso, Frokjear-Jensen, Thordarson; Keane, Jakobsen

Aston Villa: Martinez; Garcia, Konsa, Bogarde, Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans; Bailey, Asensio, Rashford, Rogers

How to Watch?

All the FA Cup matches can be watched through live football streams.

Preston North End vs Aston Villa prediction

Given the form and squad quality of Aston Villa, an away victory is the most likely result on Sunday. Preston will enter the fixture on the back of a 2-1 league win over Portsmouth, but they are unlikely to beat a top Premier League team who are also competing in the Champions League this season.

Preston North End 1-3 Aston Villa

The Lions haven’t been very convincing in the Premier League but they are still on the hunt for silverware this season. 

Match Preview 

Villa suffered a humiliating 4-1 loss to Crystal Palace in their previous league outing at Selhurst Park. 

Unai Emery’s side restored parity through Morgan Rogers early in the second-half after Ismaila Sarr’s opening goal. 

But Palace went on to score three goals past Robin Olsen who was brought in as a replacement for the injured Emiliano Martinez at the break. 

The latest defeat means the Midlands outfit have slipped down to 10th in the standings, with five points behind the top-four. 

Villa still remain in the mix for Champions League qualification, but performances must improve soon particularly after some of the high-profile signings they made in January. 

As for Cardiff, they enter Friday’s fixture on the back of a morale-boosting 1-0 victory over Hull City last time out. 

Hull dominated possession but the Bluebirds sealed maximum points from the home clash after Callum Robinson’s decisive second-half goal. 

Cardiff have reached the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in 11 years after impressive wins over Sheffield United and Stoke City. 

Team News 

Emery will be dealing with several injury woes this week, with Pau Torres, Boubacar Kamara, Ross Barkley and Amadou Onana all confined to the infirmary. 

Meanwhile, Cardiff will not have the services of Jak Alnwick for the remainder of the season due to a hamstring injury. Ollie Tanner, Will Alves, David Turnbull, Joe Ralls and Jasper Daland will also remain sidelined. 

Aston Villa vs Cardiff City potential line-ups 

Aston Villa: Olsen; Garcia, Konsa, Mings, Maatsen; McGinn, Tielemans; Rogers, Asensio, Rashford; Malen

Cardiff City: Horvath; Ng, Goutas, Fish; Rinomhota, Mannsverk, Ramsey, O’Dowda; El Ghazi, Robinson; Salech

How to Watch? 

Football enthusiasts can enjoy this FA Cup game through football live streams. 

Aston Villa vs Cardiff City prediction 

Villa’s performances have been far from convincing this campaign, but they have too much firepower to comfortably beat Cardiff even though the FA Cup may not be their top priority at the moment. 

Aston Villa 3-1 Cardiff City 

Per David Ornstein, Unai Emery’s men have approached the Bundesliga powerhouse with a tangible proposal for the Dutch forward.

They have reportedly tabled an £18 million bid for the former PSV Eindhoven winger.

However, that’s a far cry from Dortmund’s valuation of their underperforming forward.

Viable target

Malen has been a bit-part player in Nuri Sahin’s set-up at Signal Iduna Park this season, making just six league starts.

Five goals from 20 appearances across all competitions weren’t enough to earn him a more prominent role in the first half of the season.

Unwilling to carry on with his ‘benchwarmer’ tag, Malen has requested to leave Dortmund a year and a half before the expiry of his contract.

While the German giants are ready to listen to offers for the 25-year-old, they’re reluctant to let him leave below cost.

Villa’s interest is genuine, so negotiations are ongoing, but they’ll likely need to increase their offer to receive the green light from Die Borussen.

Impulsive purchase

Malen has never hit the ground running at Dortmund, and there’s a feeling the Lions are pursuing this deal in times of panic.

Six points adrift of fourth-placed Chelsea, Emery is desperate for reinforcements to bolster Villa’s chances of replicating last season’s top-four finish.

However, Malen would hardly be an upgrade on Leon Bailey, let alone Morgan Rodgers.

It’s more like they’re pushing for this transfer to create the illusion of strengthening the squad rather than addressing actual weaknesses.

Better prospect

Randal Kolo Muani, on the other hand, could be a wise choice.

On the fringes at Paris Saint-Germain, the Frenchman is on the lookout for a new club.

Villa have joined the battle to sign the 26-year-old, who could be a decent option on both wings.

He could also fill in for Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran when needed.

Despite lifting the European Cup trophy in the early 1980s, the Birmingham outfit had long been absent from Europe’s top table.

However, Villa fans no longer have to watch live football on TV on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Last season’s fourth-place Premier League finish ensured Villa would return to the continent’s grandest stage for the first time since 1983.

Unai Emery’s side came back with a bang.

Three consecutive victories to launch the newly formatted league phase brought the Lions to the brink of history.

An erratic performance in a dismal 1-0 defeat at Club Brugge on matchday four denied Villa a chance to become the first Champions League debutants to kick things off with four consecutive triumphs.

More importantly, they barely held onto the last automatic qualifying spot before the international break, boasting a narrow one-point lead on eighth-placed Atalanta.

History beckons for Emery

Emery has beaten Juventus twice at Europe’s top table with Sevilla and Villarreal in 2015 and 2022, respectively.

As a result, he could become the first manager in Champions League history to get the better of the record-time Italian champions with three different clubs.

The omens look promising for Villa.

In addition to a remarkable 1-0 win against Bayern Munich, they dispatched Bologna 2-0 in their last home outing in Europe.

Those victories form part of Villa’s imperious run of seven wins from their last eight European home games.

Favourable match-up

Despite entering this round amid a rotten six-game winless streak, Villa can draw confidence from the history books.

The abovementioned rout of Bologna marked their third consecutive home win against Italian clubs in major European competitions.

Interestingly, all three wins came ‘to nil,’ with none other than Juventus remaining the last Serie A team to find the net at Villa Park.

However, it was back in 1983.

Juventus have massively struggled on English soil since, picking up just three wins across their last 15 visits to these shores (D3, L9).

Defying that run would require Thiago Motta’s side to address their travel sickness after only winning once on their last seven Champions League travels (D2, L4).