Last year in the UEFA Europa League, two Premier League clubs made it to the final. Tottenham Hotspur played against Manchester United, and the Spurs won.
It was their first European glory since 1984. By virtue of that win, Tottenham qualified for the Champions League even after finishing 17th in the Premier League last season.
That is why the Europa League is so interesting to follow, as this tournament can change the fortune of a club.
This year, two English clubs have made it to the competition. Aston Villa qualified for the Europa League, as they finished sixth last season.
Also, Nottingham Forest qualified because Crystal Palace was relegated to the Conference League even after winning the FA Cup (for breaking UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules).
Forest have won one, drawn one, and lost one in their first three Europa League games. As for Villa, they have won two and lost one.
In their next Europa League game, Aston Villa will take on Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday. Before the game, there is tension around Villa Park.
Several groups have planned protests during the game, and many are asking for the game to be called off.
This game is not just another Europa League game that Villa Park might host this year in the Europa League.
Maccabi Tel Aviv is an Israeli club, and groups are planning to protest Israel’s bombardment of Gaza over the past two years.
Transfer News Live can exclusively reveal that local roads as well as schools in the area around Villa Park will be closed for safety reasons.
As reported by other outlets, some of the local schools in the area will be sending pupils home early – with our sources telling us that it’s expected that time will be around 1.30pm.
TNL can confirm that roads between the Aston, Lozells and Birmingham city centre areas will also be closed with traffic not being allowed into those areas.
There will also be more than 700 police officers deployed for this game, including those with horses, dogs, the force’s drone unit, and road policing officers, to ensure it passes on smoothly.
Villa Park and it’s surrounding area will also be a no-fly zone before, during and after the game.
Aston Villa had already confirmed that the away end will be closed as the club hope to navigate around a difficult subject.
Football fans around the world will be hoping that there are no major incidents at the match and the only headlines made are on the pitch rather than off it.
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