Aston Villa Learn UEFA Europa Conference League Group Stage Fate
Drawn Alongside AZ Alkmaar and Legia Warszawa
Aston Villa have been drawn into Group E of the UEFA Europa Conference League, alongside Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, Legia Warszawa from Poland, and FK Jablonec of the Czech Republic.
Fixtures
Villa's fixtures in the group stage are as follows:
- September 16: AZ Alkmaar (H)
- September 30: Legia Warszawa (A)
- October 21: FK Jablonec (H)
- November 4: FK Jablonec (A)
- November 25: Legia Warszawa (H)
- December 9: AZ Alkmaar (A)
Qualification
Villa qualified for the Europa Conference League after finishing 11th in the Premier League last season. This is their first appearance in a European competition since the 2011-12 season.
Reaction
Speaking after the draw, Aston Villa manager Dean Smith said: "We're excited to be involved in the Europa Conference League. It's a new competition and we're looking forward to the challenge."
"We know that we'll be up against some tough opposition, but we believe that we have the quality to progress to the knockout stages."
Group E Overview
Group E is a competitive group, with all four teams capable of qualifying for the knockout stages.
AZ Alkmaar are the highest-ranked team in the group, having finished third in the Eredivisie last season. They are a well-established European club, having won the UEFA Cup in 1981.
Legia Warszawa are the Polish champions, having won the Ekstraklasa for the past three seasons. They are a regular participant in European competition, having reached the group stages of the Europa League on several occasions.
FK Jablonec are the Czech Cup winners, having defeated Viktoria Plzeň in the final last season. They are a relatively inexperienced European club, but they have shown that they can be a dangerous opponent.
Aston Villa will need to be at their best if they are to qualify from Group E. However, they have a strong squad and they will be confident of their chances.
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