![[Pre-Match Thread] Fenerbahce vs. Aston Villa (Europa League - League Stage)](https://www.eucup.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/7LNXEbhMVgTHg7WKkE0G8fjzMKgVJjg2EqQve0zIGSI-1024x682.jpeg "[Pre-Match Thread] Fenerbahce vs. Aston Villa (Europa League – League Stage)")
Competition: Europa League – League Stage
Date: Thu 22 Jan 2026
Kickoff: 17:45
Venue: Chobani Stadium
Referee: Luis Miguel Branco Godinho
Aston Villa Statistics (all competitions)
Form: LWDWL
Goals per match: 1.5
Average Possession: 54.8%
Goals conceded per match: 1.1
Pass Accuracy: 86%
Shots per game: 12.1
Tackles per game: 14.9
Clean Sheets: 9
Fenerbahce Statistics (all competitions)
Form: LWWWW
Goals per match: 2
Average Possession: 58.8%
Pass Accuracy: 85.8%
Shots per game: 17.4
Tackles per game: 18.9
Clean Sheets: 14
Aston Villa Team News
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Aston Villa will be without a handful of players for Thursday’s UEFA Europa League clash at Fenerbahce.
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Captain John McGinn was forced off early in last weekend’s defeat against Everton and Villa are awaiting confirmation of the severity of his injury, with the midfielder ruled out of the tie in Turkey.
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Unai Emery will also be without goalkeeper Emi Martínez, midfielders Boubacar Kamara and Ross Barkley as well as January signing Alysson.
Fenerbahce Team News
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Archie Brown, Levent Mercan and Sebastian Szymanski are injury concerns for Fenerbahce.
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It is unclear whether Youssef En-Nesyri will be available after his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations
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Aston Villa’s last European match against a side from Türkiye saw them beat Trabzonspor 2-1 in the UEFA Cup in November 1994, although they were eliminated on away goals rule in that tie after a 2-2 draw on aggregate.
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Fenerbahçe have lost both of their previous major European meetings with Aston Villa, losing 4-0 in the first leg and 2-0 in the second leg of the first round of the 1977-78 UEFA Cup.
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This will be Aston Villa manager Unai Emery’s 100th match in the UEFA Europa League (since 2009-10), becoming the first manager to reach that milestone. Indeed, the nearest manager to Emery in terms of games in the competition is Jorge Jesus on 68.
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Across MD5 and MD6 of this season’s UEFA Europa League, no player scored more goals than Fenerbahçe’s Talisca (4). He’d only scored two goals in 13 Europa League games before this.
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Among players to play 20+ matches in the UEFA Europa League (since 2009-10), Victor Lindelöf has the best passing accuracy (93.1%); the Swede has only misplaced 13 of 271 passes in this season’s competition for Aston Villa (95.3% accuracy).
How are you feeling? What's your starting XI? Predictions? UTV!
by just_boof_it
11 Comments
With our injuries + tough away ground, I feel like this game will only end 1 of 2 ways:
1. We scrape a win by 1 goal
2. We get battered by 3+ goals
I don’t give us a prayer of winning this, I’d be over the moon with a draw.
Not expecting much, but still excited for the game.
I will never, ever take for granted that this club is playing in Europe 💜💙
Fener fan here – there’s virtually no way Archie Brown, Levent or Szymanski play tomorrow (the last because of an impending transfer to Rennes). It will probably be something like: Ederson / Semedo – Skriniar – Oosterwolde – Müldür / Alvarez – Yüksek / Dorgeles Nene – Asensio – Aktürkoğlu / Duran. I expect Fred and Talisca coming from the bench.
I’m honestly fine if we just lick our wounds the next 2 games and try to stay healthy and get the window done and then start the fight back up next Thursday for the incredibly important run of games in February
4-0 Villa. Three Durán own goals, all somehow spectacular, and then a Jimoh-Aloba banger. Let’s get that last 16 spot guaranteed. UTV
Villa does well against tougher opponents, so hoping for a dominant performance and Unai Emery masterclass. Literally came back after the first 5 PL games against all odds, anything is possible with this team. UTV!
We’re depleted ATM. I’m expecting a loss, anything more is a bonus. I think Newcastle is more important.
I’m hopeful but realistic, we can win, barely but I also completely understand if we get battered
Play the kids MON style. Bigger battles to come.
Not expecting anything from this game, I just hope Hemmings and Jimoh Aloba can get some minutes and everyone stays injury free. As long as we focus on beating Salzburg next week then top 8 should be secured (touch wood). It’s definitely not worth risking Onana for this one.