Aston Villa enter a key Europa League trip to Fenerbahce on Thursday knowing victory in Turkiye could confirm direct progress to the last 16, with Unai Emery also reaching his 100th match in the competition as Villa sit third in the league phase after six games with a record of five wins and one defeat.
That milestone places Emery clear of every other coach in Europa League history since 2009-10, with Jorge Jesus the closest on 68 fixtures, and the meeting in Istanbul carries extra weight because both clubs are chasing a top-eight finish that would send them straight into the last 16, rather than facing an extra knockout round.
Villa’s last competitive meeting with Turkish opposition in Europe came in November 1994, when a 2-1 home victory over
Trabzonspor in the UEFA Cup was not enough to progress, as the tie finished 2-2 on aggregate and Villa went out on away goals under the old rule that has since been removed from UEFA competitions.
There is also a historic backdrop between Villa and Fenerbahce in European competition, with the English side winning both legs of their previous major tie in the first round of the 1977-78 UEFA Cup, taking a 4-0 advantage from the first game and then adding a 2-0 success in the return, which underlines how long the clubs have been crossing paths.
| Europa League / UEFA Cup meeting | Competition stage | Scoreline |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Villa vs Fenerbahce, first leg | 1977-78 UEFA Cup, first round | 4-0 to Aston Villa |
| Fenerbahce vs Aston Villa, second leg | 1977-78 UEFA Cup, first round | 2-0 to Aston Villa |
| Aston Villa vs Trabzonspor | 1994 UEFA Cup, second leg | 2-1 to Aston Villa, 2-2 aggregate, Villa out on away goals |
Both clubs approach this match from a strong position in the new league phase of the Europa League, with Fenerbahce sitting on 11 points and still in range of the top eight; Villa currently hold the advantage in that race, but defeat in Istanbul would open the door for the Turkish side to overtake them in the standings.
Fenerbahce are[a] very recognised team in Europe, always playing in the Champions League, in the Europa League, said Emery.And of course, they are clearly candidates to be here at the end, at the moment in this competition. Of course, tomorrow, they have 11 points. For them, its avery important, the match. For us, we have the advantage to get in the top eight, but if they win tomorrow, against us, they can also have that possibility to make the top eight. Of course, its avery difficult match, and they have avery good team, a historic team, an experienced team. They have very good players. They have afantastic atmosphere here with their supporters, very passionate supporters. We respect them a lot.MD7 loading #UEL pic.twitter.com/SrLFfjAZ61Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) January 21, 2026
Emery’s comments highlight the reputation of Fenerbahce in the Europa League and Champions League, with the Turkish club long involved in European competition and backed by a loud, partisan crowd in Istanbul, factors that Villa must handle while protecting a strong record in this season’s league phase.
With Villa chasing automatic qualification for the last 16, Fenerbahce aiming to join the top eight on 11 points, and Emery reaching an important personal landmark on the Europa League touchline, Thursday’s fixture in Turkiye brings together tradition, pressure and high stakes for both clubs in a tight league phase table.
