Aston Villa’s Champions League hopes could see another boost with victory over leaders Arsenal at the weekend.
Unai Emery’s side recorded a statement win against champions Manchester City on Wednesday. Leon Bailey’s 74th-minute winner was enough to secure three points and move Villa up to third in the Premier League.
They have been in superb form at home this season, winning all seven league games at Villa Park. Villa’s only home defeat this season came against Everton in the Carabao Cup in September. They have now won their past 14 home games in the Premier League. Victory on Saturday would make history – Villa have never won 15 straight home league games in their entire existence.
With Villa now just four points off top spot in the Premier League, beating the Gunners on Saturday would see them close the gap further still. As we approach the halfway point of the season, they must now be seen as genuine top-four contenders.
When Did Aston Villa Last Play In The Champions League?
It’s been a long time since Villa were in Europe’s premier club competition. Not since 1982/83 have they featured in what was then still called the European Cup.
They were knocked out by Juventus in the quarter-finals that season, but a year before went all the way. The 1982 final saw Aston Villa defeat Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich 1-0 in Rotterdam to win their first – and only – European Cup.
More than 40 years on, Villa are yet to return to the top tier of European competition.
Aston Villa have been regulars in the second tier of Europe, though. Since their 1982 European Cup run, Villa have qualified for the UEFA Cup/Europa League 11 times. Their best run in that competition came in 1997/98, when they made the last eight.
Atletico Madrid were the victors on that occasion following a 2-2 draw on aggregate, winning on away goals.
Villa have already made the knockouts of this season’s Europa Conference League. They will top their group if they avoid defeat in the final group game against Zrinjski Mostar on Thursday 14 December.
How Many Points Are Needed For Top Four?
In the last ten years, the maximum number of points for a team finishing fourth in the Premier League has been 79 in 2013/14. Arsenal finished fourth with that tally, seven points clear of fifth-placed Everton.
The lowest points tally required for Champions League football in recent years is 66. Both Manchester City in 2015/16 and Chelsea in 2019/20 finished fourth with 66 points, though City only on goal difference over rivals Manchester United.
On average, 71 points have been enough for fourth place for the past decade. On current form, Villa’s 32 points in 15 games works out at 81 over the season. That was enough for Leicester City to win the title in 2016, and puts Villa on course for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Unai Emery has worked wonders since his arrival at Villa Park in November of last year. In that time, Villa have won 25 of their 40 Premier League games, drawing six and losing only nine.
With a win percentage of 62.5% in the Premier League, Emery’s record at Villa is above the likes of Arsene Wenger (57.5%) and Jose Mourinho (59.8%). Regarded by many as the greatest manager in history, Sir Alex Ferguson’s win percentage with Manchester United was 65.2%.
Aston Villa are obviously a long way off Ferguson’s United sides, but their form under this manager is comparable. Fans will be hoping it continues for the foreseeable, and will now be starting to dream of playing in the top European competition once more, four decades on from lifting club football’s top prize.
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