Aston Villa

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery: "The only idea is to be the first in the table but with our experience three years ago in the Conference League and last year in the Champions League and how we were managing in different moments - the process. Our objective is to win every match but we lost one.

"There is another team in front of us and we have to try tomorrow to get three points to be contenders to be in the top eight and to avoid the play-off.

"It is difficult and we have to be aware of how we lost the last match against Go Ahead Eagles and how we must correct things. It will be different at home.

"This is the real objective to win tomorrow and in the top eight minimum."

Aston Villa

Right then, let's see what Villa boss Unai Emery has had to say ahead of tomorrow's match against Maccabu Tel Aviv...

Aston Villa endured a difficult start to the season before claiming the opening win of their campaign at home to Bologna in the Europa League on 25 September.

That 1-0 victory provided the springboard for a five-game winning run, which was ended by the Go Ahead Eagles in their last Europa League fixture.

Villa responded well, with a home win over Manchester City, but then slipped to a fifth defeat of the season - from 14 games in all competitions - at Liverpool last time out.

Manager Unai Emery will once more attempt to right the ship against Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park on Thursday.

John McGinn is set to make his 300th appearance for Aston Villa on Thursday, becoming the 36th player in the club’s 151-year history to reach this milestone.

It was announced this morning that the Villa captain, who joined for around £2.5m from Hibernian in 2018, has signed a new contract which will extend his stay at the club to 10 years.

He has scored 33 goals and provided 41 assists for Villa.

Aston Villa

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa captain John McGinn has signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2028.

The Scotland midfielder has scored 33 goals in 299 appearances for Villa.

His new deal follows full-back Matty Cash's recent commitment to the Premier League side, with the Poland defender last month signing a new four-year contract.

Just beating the teams you're expected to beat will take you a long way as a title contender, Tom...

Here is how the situation surrounding the Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters being banned from Villa Park transpired...

• 16 October: The Safety Advisory Group - the body responsible for issuing safety certificates for matches - informed Aston Villa no travelling fans will be permitted at the match in Birmingham.
• 18 October: It was revealed that Aston Villa had told their matchday stewards that they did not have to work the fixture, saying they understood that some "may have concerns," prior to the decision to not allow fans.
• 19 October: The Israeli Premier League derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled before kick-off, after what police described as "public disorder and violent riots".
• 20 October: Maccabi Tel Aviv say they will not accept any ticket allocation from Aston Villa should the decision to ban their supporters be overturned.
• 21 October: Aston University honorary professor Ellis Cashmore says the potential for violence has increased after the decision to ban travelling fans.
• 3 November: Warnings of disruption are issued by police as more than 700 officers prepare to mount an operation for the fixture on Thursday evening.

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery is scheduled to face the media this afternoon to discuss Thursday's tie at home to Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv.

The run-up to the game has been dominated by the policing of the tie and a political row over whether away supporters should be allowed to attend.

The Villa boss is sure to be asked about that, and how his players and staff have been affected by it, although Emery will likely prefer to keep the questions to football.

I get your point, Rob, but let's be clear... a fair amount pace does just happen.

I don't know about you but I - and the vast majority of top-level footballers for that matter - could train for years and work as hard as possible and not be anywhere near as fast as Micky Van de Ven.

You can do things to make yourself quicker but a lot of it is just genetics...

All four British sides in the Europa League have a bit of work to do to secure their place in the knockout stages.

As in the Champions League, the top eight go straight through to the last 16 and the sides that finish from ninth to 24th play an extra play-off round.

Rangers are rock bottom after opening with three defeats and have it all to do under new manager Danny Rohl, starting with Thursday's huge game at home to Roma.

Celtic (21st) and Nottingham Forest (17th) are on four points after a win, draw and defeat, while Aston Villa are best placed in 10th, with six points from their three games.

Unai Emery's side looked to be heading for a third straight victory after taking an early lead in their last game, at Go Ahead Eagles, before conceding twice.

Europa League

• Basel v FCSB (17:45)
• Dinamo Zagreb v Celta Vigo (17:45)
• Malmo v Panathinaikos (17:45)
• FC Midtylland v Celtic (17:45)
• Nice v Freiburg (17:45)
• Red Bull Salzburg v Go Ahead Eagles (17:45)
• Red Star Belgrade v Lille (17:45)
• Sturm Graz v Nottm Forest (17:45)
• Utrecht v Porto (17:45)
• Aston Villa v Maccabi Tel Aviv
• Bologna v Brann
• Ferencvaros v Ludogorets Razgrad
• PAOK v Young Boys
• Rangers v Roma
• Real Betis v Lyon
• Sporting Braga v Genk
• Stuttgart v Feyenoord
• Viktoria Plzen v Fenerbahce

Right, that's your extensive Champions League round-up from last night completed.

Time to look ahead to a bit of Europa League and Conference League action. Aston Villa boss Unai Emery and Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner will be speaking shortly ahead of their sides' games tomorrow.

Curtis Davies
Former Premier League defender on Football Daily

Truly it could have been about seven and you wouldn't have walked away scratching your head.

Disappointing for Copenhagen, the way they went about it but an exciting night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, particularly after the weekend when they had their lowest ever xG for a Premier League game.

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham Hotspurs manager Thomas Frank, speaking to TNT Sport: "I am very happy with a lot of things. I think in life and football after a bad performance or situation it is about how you react.

"We call it a bounce-back mentality and our players have had a great bounce-back mentality in the last few days. They have wanted to turn things around and win, which we did.

"I think it was an impressive win because we controlled the game from minute one. We got the red card and the players found another level which was super impressive."

On Brennan Johnson's red card: "You can always say it is unnecessary but in the moment, when he goes down there, he has no intention to do anything that will get him a red card.

"I think it is quite harsh and I think VAR see it from still footage and that makes it much more brutal. I don't think he did anything reckless."

I think that is a big point when it comes to a goal like Micky Van de Ven's, Joshua.

Watching it live - especially in the stadium - when it also has the shock value is very different to watching it afterwards when you've been told it's a wonder goal in advance.