Aston Villa

Former Liverpool midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri captain's Basel against Aston Villa in Switzerland.

Basel XI: Hitz, Tsunemoto, Adjetey, Daniliuc, Schmid, Metinho, Leroy, Bacanin, Traore, Shaqiri, Otele.

Substitutes: Salvi, Pfeiffer, Vouilloz, Koindredi, Broschinski, Soticek, Salah, Ajeti, Barisic, Ruegg, Cisse, Ze.

Emiliano Buendaa returns to Aston Villa's starting XI after his last-gasp winner against Arsenal last week - one of several changes Unai Emery has made.

There's also a start for Jadon Sancho in Switzerland while Marco Bizot starts in goal in place of Emiliano Martinez.

Aston Villa XI: Bizot, Digne, Lindelof, Konsa, Cash, Sancho, Onana, Bogarde, Guessand, Buendia, Malen.

Substitutes: Wright, Oakley, McGinn, Tielemans, Watkins, Garcia, Maatsen, Rogers, Kamara, Hemmings.

There are 36 games in the Europa League and Europa Conference League on Thursday, including three involving Premier League teams, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

Three English teams are playing:

• Europa League: Utrecht v Nottingham Forest (17:45)

• Europa League: Basel v Aston Villa

• Conference League: Shelbourne v Crystal Palace

Kick-off times 20:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Having stuck to his principles, Unai Emery's beliefs have shone through.

Aston Villa have won nine of their last 10 Premier League matches - the only blip a 2-0 defeat at Liverpool - and 13 of their last 15 in all competitions.

Yet they have still not been entirely convincing, only doing so really in a 4-0 win over Bournemouth. Perhaps it is a warning to Arsenal and Manchester City - both beaten in Villa's near-faultless run - that Emery's men are yet to hit top gear.

Looking at their last five top-flight games - against Bournemouth, Leeds, Wolves, Brighton and Arsenal - they have had less possession and fewer entries into the box than in the winless opening five games.

Yet, with Emery persevering, the stats are all up elsewhere.

The biggest difference is the 8.8 xG in their most recent five outings, compared to just 3.8 at the start of the season.

There are more shots (75 to 52), more big chances created (10 compared to six), more touches in the opposition box and more tackles.

It took Villa time to get going, but Emery has proved their greatest weapon and led their charge in impressive fashion.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Hermon
BBC Radio WM in Basel

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It's conceivable to think that Aston Villa fans travelled here via cloud nine.

After all, they've been on it ever since Saturday lunchtime's thrilling victory over Premier League leaders Arenal, but now it's from euphoria to Europa as Unai Emery's side focus their attention on a competition that the Spaniard has won a record four times in his career, including in the 2016 final against Liverpool at Basel's St. Jakob Park.

• Listen to Emery and Tielemans clips

The Villa boss returns there knowing a win would move them a step closer to the knockout stage, although they did lose their last away match. They suffered a surprise defeat to Go Ahead Eagles on a rainy night in the Netherlands, in which the head coach made seven changes to his starting line-up. However, 'In Unai We Trust' has been the resounding message from the fans I've spoken to in Switzerland. Their high spirits are being helped not only by that dramatic victory in the Premier League but also Basel's delightful Christmas market on Munsterplatz. Oh, and probably a beer or two in one of the many bars in the tri-border city, where three points will be an early festive gift for the 1,800 supporters who've travelled here for another European away day experience to savour.

I caught up with some as you'll see below at the Dreiländereck monument, where the borders of Switzerland, Germany and France meet by the Rheine River.

Tonight on BBC Radio WM: West Midlands Football Phone-in (1800) and Pre-match discussion (1900)

Get it all live here

And get match commentary on your digital radio - not online - from 2000.

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Youri Tielemans does not think there has been "a negative incident" at Aston Villa this season as he reflects on a run of 13 wins in their past 15 matches.

That outstanding form has propelled them into the top three of both the Premier League and Europa League tables and is far from removed from Villa's start to the season.

It was Tuesday, 16 September before Unai Emery's side even scored as they started 2025-26 with no wins in their opening six games.

"Our form two months ago wasn't good enough," Tielemans conceded before the Europa League fixture against Basel on Thursday. "But we just kept working, doing the basics we've always done and from there, it just clicked.

"Once you get that first win, you feel relieved and then you know it's going to happen again.

"I think from there on we built a good structure and our mentality has always been good. There's never been a negative incident inside this team."

Asked about what Villa had done to transform their fortunes, Tielemans praised boss Emery for inspiring their turnaround.

"When it's not happening, obviously you're getting frustrated," he said. "But it was a conversation about how we can get back to our level.

"The manager's always been on point with his analysis and with his work. It was just down to us players to try and make it click on the pitch - since that day, it's clicked really well.

"We've won a lot of games, but that doesn't mean it stops there. We always want to kick on, we always want to improve and that's what we're trying to do every day."

Joe Bradshaw
BBC Sport senior journalist

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has been speaking to the media before Thursday's Europa League game against Basel at St. Jakob-Park (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Emery is pleased with Villa's excellent recent form, but is taking nothing for granted: "We are in December and of course there are still a lot of matches to play in different competitions. We have a lot of things to improve, but [from] how we were two months ago [to] how we are now of course is different."

• He said the players have taken "responsibility" after their poor start to the season: "We are building some emotional structure so in everything we are doing and sometimes even [when we are] not winning, we can feel the same. Then on the field, how we are being responsible. The players thought of responsibility after we lost some matches [and] we were not performing well, in August and September. They are being mature [and] responsible."

• He added this mentality will serve Villa well as they fight on all fronts for success this season: "We need to set our standards, our level, as high as possible in everything. Even when they are resting at home, they must think they will play in a few days and must be ready to play."

• Emery reflected on winning the Europa League with Sevilla against Liverpool in May 2016 in this stadium: "This competition is so special for me. It gave me a lot - trophies, of course, and a lot of experiences. Of course, here we won the third Europa League I won with Seville. We have won here against Liverpool, and it was a fantastic day."

• However, he preferred to dwell on what is happening now, nearly 10 years on with Aston Villa: "I want to build a new moment, a new era and a new way. It is very important for our trajectory, for the players and for my own. I am so, so motivated."

• He recognised the threat Swiss champions Basel will pose: "They won much at home in this competition and they are feeling strong as well. Through the stadium with their supporters, they will be so motivated."

• Finally, he spoke about the future of on-loan midfielder Harvey Elliott, who is not in the squad for this game: "We are speaking with him [about] his situation. Hopefully, we can get the best for him and for us as well. I respect him a lot as a player - I respect him a lot as a person. My decision is a sport decision."

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"Blistering Villa fire title salvo": the headline above the great Midlands football writer Rob Bishop's report in the Birmingham Post on Aston Villa's dramatic mid-December victory over Arsenal. "Arsenal's normally regimented defence had gone missing; Villa's title prospects were soaring," he wrote.

That report was from December 1998, after one of the most famous of all Villa Park games, in which John Gregory's team had roared back from two goals down to win and reclaim their place at the top of the Premiership. The blast-wave of noise in the final moments of last Saturday's match had echoes from that day.

This season, Villa are the chasers rather than the front-runners, and the game took a different course to the '98 match, but there was one common thread. Reading back that old report on the train to Villa Park on Saturday refreshed the memory of Gregory's gamble: early in the second half, trailing to two Dennis Bergkamp goals, he replaced Gareth Barry with Stan Collymore and sent Villa charging forward.

Five minutes from the end last Saturday, at 1-1, both managers called for substitutions. Mikel Arteta made like-for-like changes. Unai Emery replaced two of his back four with one defender – Victor Lindelof – and Emi Buendia. Was Emery thinking beyond this game, that this might be the best chance to haul back ground on the leaders? He does not get drawn into discussing future prospects like that. But most coaches this season, holding those cards against Arsenal, would stand. Emery called hit.

That Buendia himself should be the man to keep his head in a wild scramble, in the game's final breath, was almost too cinematically perfect. It topped off his astounding comeback year, which began with him on the fringes of the Villa squad after a long trudge back from injury before a loan spell in Germany. Now he has followed a Goal of the Month winner in October with a goal which will mark his name in Villa's history, his career fully rehabilitated.

History also records that the 1998 win over Arsenal was the high watermark for Gregory's Villa, and their unexpected challenge fell away after Christmas. This Villa generation, a much deeper squad to suit the age, may stay in the race rather longer. Gregory and Emery come from entirely different backgrounds but these games show us one shared characteristic: a spirit of adventure, a willingness to seize the moment. Villa head to Switzerland this week with a renewed belief that they can take on all comers.

Listen to full commentary of Basel v Aston Villa at 20:00 on Thursday on BBC Radio WM (95.6FM)

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Aston Villa content on BBC Sounds

Aston Villa are exploring a deal for 19-year-old Brazilian forward Alysson, who plays for Gremio. (The Athletic - subscription required), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's' full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Hannah Gowen
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Unai Emery has coached Aston Villa into third place in the league so at what point is this team considered genuine contenders to challenge for the title?

It is a strange metric, but since they scored their first goal of the season away at Sunderland, Villa are top of the form league. Simply put, they gave the rest of the league a five-game head start, but have been utterly ruthless since.

There is a strange misconception that Emery-style football is not attractive, their wins are unsustainable and that Villa have been 'lucky'. Yet it seems they have an answer for every question thrown their way - goals from every position, consistency away from home and juggling two games a week.

With nine wins out of their past 10, surely there comes a time when any doubt about Aston Villa goes out of the window?

If ever there were a manager to achieve such dizzying heights at Villa, it would be Emery. He has now amassed the most Premier League wins of any Villa manager on record, and has done so in fewer games. He has revitalised players who had previously hit a ceiling, plus nurtured new talent to create a team that can triumph tactically against almost any opposition.

Villa fans are not exactly shy to the feeling of disappointment or fumbling when opportunities for success lay ahead.

Two years ago, Villa had the chance to claim the top spot at Christmas, but stumbled with a draw against a poor Sheffield United side. There must come a time when this club's fortune changes.

Chances are Villa will not be lifting the Premier League trophy in May. But who is to tell Emery, the players and the fans that they should not believe? The club have said it themselves - there are no limits to our dreams.

Find more from Hannah Gowen at UTV, external

BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club team discussed whether Aston Villa can be considered as being in the title race or if it is too much of a stretch for Unai Emery's men this season.

"They are," said former Premier League striker Chris Sutton. "They don't have the squad depth but Ollie Watkins hasn't even got going this season yet.

"If he starts to hit the heights he is capable of then they can go up another level.

"You can't be anything but impressed but Emery's side."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Aston Villa are interested in Strasbourg's 23-year-old Argentinian striker Joaquin Panichelli, with Chelsea and West Ham also monitoring him. (Teamtalk), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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The FA Cup third round will take place between Thursday, 8 January and Monday, 12 January.

Find out who your Premier League club will play below.

• Wolves v Shrewsbury Town

• Tottenham v Aston Villa

• Wrexham v Nottingham Forest

• Charlton Athletic v Chelsea

• Manchester City v Exeter City

• West Ham v Queens Park Rangers

• Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford

• Fulham v Middlesbrough

• Everton v Sunderland

• Liverpool v Barnsley

• Burnley v Millwall

• Portsmouth v Arsenal

• Derby County v Leeds United

• Newcastle v Bournemouth

• Macclesfield v Crystal Palace

• Manchester United v Brighton

See full draw here

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Aston Villa and Arsenal.

Here are some of your comments:

Villa fans

Gemma: Keep writing us off at your peril. There had been no mention of Villa being in the title race at any point before this game, but after that performance anything is possible. There are still a few areas at the back we need to tidy up on and Ollie Watkins still needs more confidence, but overall I am a very happy Villa fan. This season will go to the wire, but could a Premier League and European cup double be a possibility for Unai Emery and the boys?

Richard: What a cracking game. It could've gone either way but the small yet mighty Emi Buendia got a deserved winner. It shows how much Villa have progressed under Emery that we now fear nobody and always feel we can win. Title contenders we are not, but another run in the Champions League next season is a distinct possibility.

Chris: Credit once again to Unai. He has the players so well-drilled in what they need to do. The end results are hard earned, so massive credit to the whole squad and coaching staff. It is a collective effort, but Unai is the mastermind. His passion is just incredible, I love him.

Mark: We may not win the title but top four has to be the aim now. It's a balance with a successful run in Europe. We have the right man in charge that's for sure. Villa definitely on the up.

• Find and follow your club here

Arsenal fans

Rachel: A hard-fought match lost by small margins but we could so nearly have won it, even without our centre-backs. I'm not sure why Eberechi Eze is playing on the left - he has already proved he is not effective in that position, and there are lots of other options there. Mikel Arteta got it wrong. Let's hope it's not too late.

Al: Arsenal seemed weak in challenges all over park, second to balls, and repeatedly robbed in possession. It feels like a real dip is beginning.

Jim: Arsenal have been riding their luck away from home for weeks now. Sunderland and Chelsea both deserved to beat us. Arteta's tactics and approach are so unattractive. If Emery had been backed and given the time Arteta has, we'd have won the league in the past three years and probably the Champions League too.

Michael: The tough schedule has finally caught up with Arsenal. A point dropped as a win never looked likely. Time to reset, rest and rotate.

Image source, Getty Images

The draw for the third round of the FA Cup will take place on Monday, 8 December at around 18:40 GMT, before the broadcast of Brackley Town v Burton Albion - the final game of the Second Round.

Former England internationals Joe Cole and Peter Crouch will conduct the draw that will consist of 64 teams on TNT Sports.

The 20 winners of the second-round ties will be joined by all 20 Premier League clubs and 24 Championship teams in the third round.

All matches will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, 10 January 2026.

Unlike in previous years, there are no replays if matches end as a draw. All ties will go to extra-time and if necessary, a penalty shootout.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Matty Cash insists Aston Villa must wait until after Christmas to start talking about a title challenge.

The defender scored the opener in Saturday's dramatic last-gasp victory against leaders Arsenal, which left Villa three points behind the Gunners.

Emi Buendia scored with the last kick of the game as Villa made it 13 wins from their last 15 games in all competitions.

They sit third, behind Arsenal and Manchester City, having won nine of their last 10 in the Premier League.

Cash said: "It's hard to say [about a title challenge]. It's like 'wow' when you look where we are at the minute, obviously we're three points behind Arsenal.

"We're in a fantastic position, but we're not even at Christmas yet. So I think we've got to have a bit of Christmas dinner first before we think about that.

"Obviously, it's great to be in this position but we've got loads of football left.

"We want to keep being consistent and demanding and hopefully we can have a good run."

Villa have beaten Arsenal and Manchester City at home this season and travel to the Emirates to finish the year on 30 December.

"It [Saturday] was a massive test. I think they're probably one of the best teams in Europe," said Poland international Cash.

"You're looking at the Champions League, they're flying the Premier League. They're probably favourites to win it.

"So it was definitely a big challenge for us to see where we were at. We were probably saying the same thing when we played against City as well and managed to beat them.

"But it's still early days. Arsenal are a fantastic team and are going to be up there all season, I think.

"But it's good to sort of go toe-to-toe with them sort of teams and see where we're at."

Unai Emery continues to deny Aston Villa are in the title race, even as his old club Arsenal start to look vulnerable at the top of the Premier League.

Villa's head coach is playing down his current side's chances at a time when their form has become impossible to ignore.

A dramatic 2-1 win over Arsenal on Saturday moved Villa just three points behind the Gunners, with Manchester City joining both in the top three.

Villa were in a strikingly similar position two years ago but finished fourth - 23 points behind champions City.

With over a third of the Premier League season gone, there is a case to be made that Emery's team should be taken seriously in the title talk this time.

They have beaten Arsenal and City at home and have now won nine of their past 10 in the league - seven straight in all competitions - so why would Villa not be in the mix?

Former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy points out one major factor that could count against them.

"I don't see them as title contenders, only because of a lack of strength in depth. But their best XI can beat anybody," Murphy said.

Yet former Villa forward Dion Dublin disagreed on Match of the Day and said: "Why not when they are playing the way they are?

"It is about keeping these players fit now and staying at the level they played at [against Arsenal].

"If they do that, then yes, they are in the title race without a doubt."

Pundits Danny Murphy and Don Dublin join host Kelly Cates to bring you the action and talking points from Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea

• Tottenham 2-0 Brentford

• Leeds 3-3 Liverpool