2025-26 UEFA Europa League: League Phase – Go Ahead Eagles vs Aston Villa

Go Ahead Eagles meet Aston Villa in a huge league phase clash in 2025-26 UEFA Europa League. 

Victory could lift Go Ahead Eagles into the top eight depending on results elsewhere, whilst third-placed Villa can go top if better Dinamo Zagreb and Midtjylland’s results elsewhere.

 

Team News

Go Ahead Eagles have no fresh injury concerns after their 1-1 draw against NEC in Eredivisie.

Victor Evardsen (knee), Pim Saathof and Soren Tengstedt (both unspecified) remain ruled out.

Villa have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 2-1 comeback victory at Tottenham in the Premier League, with Ollie Watkins expected to start after his substitute appearance in North London.

Tyrone Mings (ankle) could return but Andres Garcia (unspecified) and Youri Tielemans (calf) remain sidelined.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Go Ahead Eagles host Villa at De Adelaarshorst on Thursday 23 October at 6:45pm BST, live on TNT Sports 1 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• This is Go Ahead Eagles’ first-ever competitive meeting against Aston Villa.
• Aston Villa are playing away to Go Ahead Eagles for the first time in a competitive meeting.
• Go Ahead Eagles are yet to keep a clean sheet in the league phase (W1, L1).
• John McGinn has scored in each of Villa’s last two league phase matches (W2), in which Unai Emery’s Villains kept clean sheets on both occasions.

 

Prediction

Coming into this game with just two clean sheets and two goalscoring blanks in all competitions this season, Go Ahead Eagles certainly won’t make this easy but they don’t score many at home which will be a tough issue for them if Villa get ahead and they have to step up their attack.

Villa though slowly grew into their eventual comeback against Tottenham because their initial defensive play was just plain sloppy and lacked much bite, yet they somehow managed to concede just once and went on to be the more confident energetic team attack wise.

Now if they can cut out that initial defensive sloppiness and bring more attacking intensity from the get-go, I can see a comfortable away win coming.

Prediction: Go Ahead Eagles 0-2 Aston Villa

Result: Go Ahead Eagles 2-1 Aston Villa