Europa League

Europa League news

GFX Unai Emery Pep Guardiola Mikel Arteta

Emery labels Guardiola 'greatest coaching genius'

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery has hailed Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola as the "greatest" coaching mind in the game. The Spaniard also praised the work of Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta and Paris Saint-Germain's Luis Enrique as he reflected on the elite level of management currently on display across Europe's top leagues.

U. EmeryP. Guardiola
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Lyon face UEFA expulsion over financial breach

Lyon are facing the devastating prospect of being expelled from UEFA competition next season as the governing body prepares to take action over financial irregularities. Despite sitting on the verge of Champions League qualification, the French giants have reportedly failed to comply with the strict terms of a settlement agreement reached last summer.

LyonChampions League
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Kompany hails Freiburg after UEL achievement

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany has offered a glowing assessment of Freiburg following their historic progression to the Europa League final. Despite his own side’s recent disappointment in European competition, the Belgian tactician insisted that their rivals represent a blueprint for success in the modern game.

V. KompanyFreiburg
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Ollie Watkins Unai Emery Aston Villa 2025-26 Europa League

‘If anyone can, he can’ - Villa have UEL ace up their sleeve

Aston Villa have work to do in the second leg of their Europa League semi-final clash with Nottingham Forest, but Tony Dorigo has told GOAL why Unai Emery can be an “incredible” ace up the Villans’ sleeve. The Spanish tactician is looking to land a familiar trophy for the fifth time in his coaching career, with Dorigo saying “if anyone can, he can” when it comes to bringing a 30-year wait for tangible success to a close in the West Midlands.

Aston VillaU. Emery
Chelsea v Nottingham Forest - Premier League

Gibbs-White fitted with mask for Forest semi-final

Nottingham Forest are facing an anxious wait over the fitness of star playmaker Morgan Gibbs-White ahead of their crucial Europa League semi-final second leg at Aston Villa. Having secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg, the club are dreaming of the final, but the midfielder's significant head injury against Chelsea leaves his participation at Villa Park in major doubt.

M. Gibbs-WhiteNottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest City Ground 2025-26

Why Forest boast atmosphere West Ham & PL rivals can’t match

Former Nottingham Forest captain Henri Lansbury has explained to GOAL why the Reds boast a home game atmosphere that Premier League rivals such as West Ham could never match. The City Ground has been rocking since promotion back into the big time was secured - across domestic and European competition - with a key factor in the creation of a hostile environment being explained.

Nottingham ForestPremier League
Elliot Anderson Morgan Gibbs-White Nottingham Forest 2025-26

Gibbs-White leads Anderson tribute after Forest goal

Morgan Gibbs-White has led an emotional tribute to Nottingham Forest team-mate Elliot Anderson during an historic Europa League victory over Porto. The midfielder celebrated his decisive goal by displaying a heartfelt message for the England international, who withdrew from the squad following the tragic passing of his mother, Helen.

Nottingham ForestM. Gibbs-White
Ryan Yates Nottingham Forest 2025-26

‘Does win you games’ - Forest’s master of dark arts saluted

Ryan Yates is often Nottingham Forest’s tormentor in chief, while donning the captain’s armband, and former Reds skipper Henri Lansbury has told GOAL why dark arts in football are to be saluted. Every club boasts a player that divides opinion among fan bases, with characters that are loved by home supporters positively revelling in their ability to rile opponents.

R. YatesNottingham Forest
Aston Villa FC Training Session And Press Conference - UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final Second Leg

📽️ | Tielemans in hysterics at Emery's reaction to reporter

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery produced a classic deadpan moment during his pre-match duties that left midfielder Youri Tielemans struggling to keep a straight face. As the Spaniard shut down questions regarding potential suspensions, his blunt delivery sparked a wave of laughter in the media room ahead of their Europa League quarter-final second leg clash against Italian side Bologna.

U. EmeryAston Villa
Callum Hudson-Odoi Nottingham Forest 2025-26

Mental block? Hudson-Odoi gets ‘basics’ advice from Forest icon

Nottingham Forest legend Stan Collymore has told GOAL how Callum Hudson-Odoi can go about rediscovering his lost spark. The former Chelsea winger has earned trust from four different managers at the City Ground this season, but goals and assists have been in short supply. A “mental” block is considered to be impacting efforts to find top form, with the talented 25-year-old being urged to go back to “basics”.

C. Hudson-OdoiNottingham Forest

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Bologna FC 1909 v Aston Villa FC - UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Quarter-Final First Leg

Bologna vs Aston Villa: Winners & losers

Aston Villa seized a commanding first-leg advantage in their Europa League quarter-final with a clinical 3-1 victory over Bologna. Unai Emery's tactical masterclass silenced the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara and established the Villans as the undisputed favourites to reach the final four.

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Aston Villa Europa League Unai Emery 2025-26

Thirty-year trophy wait over?! Villa told how to keep Emery

Aston Villa are being backed to complete a memorable double in 2026, with Champions League qualification being secured through their Premier League standing and a first trophy win in 30 years. Former Villans defender Richard Dunne has told GOAL how landing major silverware and finishing strongly in top-flight competition can help to keep Unai Emery on board.

Aston VillaU. Emery

Frequently asked questions

Barcelona are the most successful Copa del Rey side in history, winning the cup 31 times, seven more than Athletic Bilbao and 11 more than bitter rivals Real Madrid. Their first-ever Copa del Rey win came in the 1909-10 season. Since the start of the 2014-15 season, the Catalans have lifted this trophy six times.

Currently, as many as 126 teams participate in the Copa del Rey, starting at the top from La Liga and going all the way down to the Tercera Federacion, the fifth tier in Spanish football league system. In its inaugural edition in 1903, just three teams (Athletic Bilbao, Espanyol, and Madrid FC) took part.

Former Athletic Bilbao and Spain forward Piru Gainza is Copa del Rey's record-appearance maker ever, featuring in 99 games in the cup competition.

Iconic Spanish forward Telmo Zarra is Copa del Rey's all-time top scorer, finding the back of the net on 81 occasions between 1939 and 1957. All those goals came in an Athletic Bilbao shirt.

CD Bunol goalkeeper Paco is the oldest player to ever feature in a Copa del Rey game, achieving the feat against Real Sociedad in 2023 at the age of 44 years and 231 days.

Armando Sagi is the youngest player to ever feature in a Copa del Rey game. Playing for Barcelona, Sagi was just 15 years and 339 days old when he made his debut in the competition on April 2, 1922.

Antoine Griezmann, Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Neymar, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Telmo Zarra, Sergio Busquets, Roberto Carlos, Luis Suarez, and Xavi are some of the most famous players to have played in the Copa del Rey.

Carlo Ancelotti, Luis Enrique, Juande Ramos, Claudio Ranieri, Louis van Gaal, Sir Bobby Robson, Cesar Menotti, Miguel Munoz, and Ferdinand Daucik are some of Copa del Rey's most famous mangers.

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