NewsBeat
Forest secure Europa League play-off spot but eye more firepower
Two English clubs are in action on the final day of the Europa League group phase as clubs chase spots in the top eight and play-off positions.
At Villa Park, Unai Emery’s Aston Villa host RB Salzburg. Villa have won six of their seven games and are level on points with leaders Lyon, with the opportunity to potentially finish top of the big league table. Emery’s side come into tonight’s game off the back of a 2-0 league win at Newcastle on Sunday. They do have an injury crisis in midfield, with Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans all out.
“We are trying every small detail to try and get [a high finish] for ourselves,” Emery said. “One of the objectives of qualifying is to get this advantage. Not just this, we want to win the match. We must show how important this competition is to us.”
Salzburg are down in 28th with just two wins to their name but do still have the chance to finish in the top 24 and a spot in the play-offs. These sides have never met each other in a European match. Salzburg are winless in their eight European meetings with English clubs.
Meanwhile at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest host Ferencvaros. Sean Dyche’s side lost 1-0 at Braga a week ago, which has severely dented their hopes of a top-eight finish. Even a win looks unlikely to put them in the top eight. They did though bounce back from that defeat to Braga with an important 2-0 win at Brentford in the league on Sunday.
“Getting into the draw is not the only thing that matters, but good form is also important for the league,” Dyche said. “It is difficult to balance between the Europa League and the [Premier League], but apart from the match against Braga, we have managed it well. Against Braga, we were far from the level expected of us. We want to keep up the good form.”
Ferencvaros, led by Robbie Keane, head into the final matchday in seventh, in a strong position to claim a top eight spot. They currently sit third in the Hungarian top flight, four points off the summit, but lost at home to leaders Gyor at the weekend.
Team news from both games to follow shortly.