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Aston Villa beat Fenerbahce in the Europa League
Jadon Sancho’s 25th-minute header sent Aston Villa to the Europa League last 16 automatically with a match to spare as the Premier League side won at Fenerbahce.
Restored Sancho met Matty Cash’s deflected delivery to decide the Matchday 7 contest in Istanbul, where Kerem Akturkoglu had a strike ruled out 15 minutes from time for offside against former Villa striker Jhon Duran.
Morgan Rogers also had a goal disallowed when the midfielder slotted in after the restart, with the ball ruled to have hit referee Luis Miguel Branco Godinho as part of the move.
Jadon Sancho gives Aston Villa the lead away against Fenerbahce 🔥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/AmnMxEs01M
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The result left the English club five points clear of the play-off places with one game remaining in the league phase.
Villa will discover their next opponents in the competition on February 27, with the round of 16 taking place across the second and third weeks of March.
Fenerbahce, who are almost certain to be in the play-offs, visit FCSB in the final round of matches on January 29 (20:00 GMT), when Villa simultaneously host Salzburg.
A 62nd win in the Europa League for Unai Emery secures Aston Villa's spot in the last-16 👏
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/sq7iAANqMe
Jhon Duran started for Fenerbahce alongside fellow former Villan Marco Asensio.
Fred, who spent five seasons with Manchester United, and Dorgeles Nene also came in.
Archie Brown, Levent Mercan and Sebastian Szymanski were out injured. Matteo Guendouzi, Anthony Musaba and Mert Gunok are ineligible in the Europa League until the knockout phase.
Fenerbahce starting XI: Ederson, Nelson Semedo, Milan Skriniar, Jayden Oosterwolde, Mert Muldur, Dorgeles Nene, Fred, Marco Asensio, Ismail Yuksek, Kerem Akturkoglu, Jhon Duran
Fenerbahce substitutes: Engin Biterge, Caglar Soyuncu, Edson Alvarez, Tarik Cetin, Yigit Demir, Oguz Aydin, Talisca, Haydar Karatas
Villa made five changes from their defeat to Everton the previous Sunday and were without goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, midfielders Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Ross Barkley and new winger Alysson.
Goalkeeper Marco Bizot came in, as did Victor Lindelof and Tyrone Mings in central defence, Lucas Digne at left-back and wideman Sancho.
Midfielder Amadou Onana returned on the bench.
Aston Villa starting XI: Marco Bizot, Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Jadon Sancho, Lamare Bogarde, Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Emiliano Buendia, Ollie Watkins
Aston Villa substitutes: Sam Proctor, Ezri Konsa, Pau Torres, Andres Garcia, Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, Ian Maatsen, Amadou Onana, Evann Guessand, Kadan Young, George Hemmings, James Wright
Villa’s List A Europa League squad has been registered until the round of 16 in February 2026, when clubs can add a maximum of three new players within the existing limit of 25.
Goalkeepers: Emi Martinez, Marco Bizot
Defenders: Matty Cash, Victor Lindelof, Ezri Konsa, Tyrone Mings, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres
Midfielders: Andres García, Ian Maatsen, John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, Jadon Sancho, Amadou Onana, Boubacar Kamara, Harvey Elliott
Forwards: Emi Buendia, Ollie Watkins, Donyell Malen, Morgan Rogers, Evann Guessand
List B submissions, comprised of players born after January 1, 2004 who have been eligible to play for the club for an uninterrupted period of two years since their 15th birthday, can also be made until midnight before each match.
In a change from the previous group stage held until 2023/24, each team now plays eight matches in the league phase, all against different opponents.
The top eight sides in the table qualify automatically for the round of 16. The teams finishing in ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout phase play-off to reach the last 16.
Teams finishing 25th or lower are out of Europe for the season.
Knockout phase play-offs: February 17/18 & 24/25 2026
Round of 16: March 10/11 & 17/18 2026
Quarter-finals: April 7/8 & 14/15 2026
Semi-finals: April 28/29 and May 5/6 2026
Final: May 30 2026
Knockout phase play-offs: January 30 2026
Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final, and final: February 27 2026
Villa qualified by finishing sixth in 2024/25, although they would have been in the Champions League had they not lost at Manchester United on the final day.
Nottingham Forest’s participation comes after they were promoted from the Conference League because of a UEFA ruling against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace, upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The final will take place on May 20 2026 at the Besiktas Stadium home of 16-time Turkish champions Besiktas.
The stadium hosted a dramatic 2019 Super Cup final, Chelsea and Liverpool each scoring once during regular and extra time before the Reds won on penalties following the 2-2 draw.
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