Aston Villa embark on their European adventure tonight as they welcome Israeli side Maccabi Haifa to Villa Park for their Europa Conference League group stage opener. After an impressive return to European football last season, Unai Emery's side are determined to make their mark in continental competition.
Match Details and Kick-off Time
The highly anticipated clash is scheduled for Thursday, 21st September with kick-off at 8pm BST. Villa Park is expected to be buzzing with excitement as fans welcome European football back to Birmingham after last season's successful campaign.
How to Watch: TV Channel and Live Streaming
For UK viewers, the match will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, with coverage beginning at 7:45pm BST. Subscribers can stream the action via the Discovery+ app, ensuring no one misses a moment of this crucial group stage encounter.
Team News and Expected Lineups
Unai Emery faces some selection dilemmas with several key players carrying knocks from the weekend's Premier League action. There are concerns over the fitness of Alex Moreno and Jacob Ramsey, who both missed recent training sessions.
However, Villa supporters will be encouraged by the potential return of Boubacar Kamara, who could feature after recovering from his own injury concerns. Emery is expected to rotate his squad carefully, balancing European ambitions with domestic commitments.
What's at Stake for Both Teams
This represents a significant moment for Aston Villa as they look to establish themselves as genuine contenders in this competition. For Maccabi Haifa, the visit to Villa Park marks another challenging away fixture in European competition following their Champions League exploits last season.
The Israeli champions, managed by Messay Dego, will be no pushovers and possess considerable European experience. Villa will need to be at their best to secure three crucial points in their group stage opener.
Emery's European Pedigree
Unai Emery's reputation in European competition precedes him, with the Spanish manager having won the Europa League four times during his career. His tactical expertise and understanding of continental football could prove decisive as Villa navigate their way through this competition.
Don't miss what promises to be an enthralling European night under the lights at Villa Park as Aston Villa begin their Conference League journey.
