Aston Villa
How Aston Villa’s Europa League Run Could Reshape the Premier League’s Champions League Picture
Villa’s Europa League run could hand Chelsea or Liverpool a Champions League route via EPS. 2025/26.
With six Premier League fixtures remaining, the race for Champions League qualification carries an unusual twist tied to Aston Villa’s progress in the Europa League. Villa’s European campaign has been consistent even as their domestic form has fluctuated. They eliminated Bologna, beating the Serie A side 7–1 on aggregate in the Europa League quarterfinals, and now face Nottingham Forest in the semi-finals.
Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini offered a stark assessment after the tie: “When you face such a strong team, you take your hat off and applaud,” and “They’ll definitely win the Europa League.” That outcome would have direct consequences for Premier League clubs chasing the top four.
England has secured an extra Champions League place this season thanks to English sides’ performances in Europe, so normally the top four qualify and a fifth spot exists. Liverpool currently occupy that fifth position, with Chelsea four points behind. Villa sit above Liverpool by three points and are seven points clear of Chelsea.
The permutations are straightforward. If Villa win the Europa League they will take a Champions League place through that route regardless of their league finish. If Villa also finish fourth, England’s allocation remains unchanged. If Villa finish fifth while also winning the Europa League, the additional European Performance Spot would drop down to sixth. At present that would benefit Chelsea.
Liverpool know the margins are small. The two clubs meet on May 17 in the penultimate round, a fixture that could prove decisive. Despite the turmoil engulfing Anfield this season, Liverpool boast a superior goal difference. If Arne Slot’s side win their remaining six games, they will finish fourth at the very least. Even matching Villa’s results and claiming victory over the Villans next month would secure their position.
Villa are unlikely to fall to sixth, but a slide to fifth remains possible in a season defined by fine margins. That uncertainty is why Chelsea and Liverpool may find themselves unusually invested in Villa’s Europa League journey.
Aston Villa
2026 Kopa Trophy shortlist announced as Yamal seeks another win
Yamal leads the 2026 Kopa Trophy shortlist after another huge Barcelona season.
The 2026 Kopa Trophy nominees have been confirmed, and Lamine Yamal is once again the leading name on the list as he targets a third straight success.
Barcelona’s Yamal arrives at the ceremony after a season that underlined his growing status. He produced 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 matches for Barcelona during the 2025-26 campaign, helping Hansi Flick’s side secure La Liga. That form is expected to place him near the top of the Ballon d’Or conversation when the final ceremony is held on Oct. 26.
He is joined by club and international teammate Pau Cubarsí, who continues to build on a strong rise of his own. The centre-back finished seventh last season and now returns after winning La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain. He also collected the FIFA Young Player Award at that tournament.
The shortlist also includes Yan Diomande, following a season that ended with a $161.6 million (€140 million) move to the Bernabéu, while Ayyoub Bouaddi has been named after Manchester City’s $111 million signing. Warren Zaïre-Emery remains a familiar figure among the nominees, having tied for eighth in 2024.
There are several first-time challengers too. Lennart Karl of Bayern Munich and Ibrahim Maza of Bayer Leverkusen represent the Bundesliga, while Bournemouth’s Junior Kroupi and Aston Villa’s Johan Manzambi bring Premier League representation to the list. Juventus’ Kerim Alajbegović completes the men’s shortlist.
The women’s Kopa Trophy, introduced in 2025, also features a strong field. Barcelona and Spain’s Vicky López, the inaugural winner, is back in contention. She is joined by teammate Clara Serrajordi, Chelsea’s Veerle Buurman, Real Madrid’s Felicia Schröder and OL Lyonnes’ Lily Yohannes.
Al Ahli
Yashin Trophy 2026 shortlists reveal established names and fresh contenders
The 2026 Yashin Trophy shortlists are out, with new contenders joining familiar goalkeeping names.
The 2026 Yashin Trophy race has taken shape, with 10 men and five women named on the latest shortlists for football’s top goalkeeping honour.
There will be a new men’s winner this year after Gianluigi Donnarumma, who led the rankings in 2025, was not included among the nominees. That opens the door for a wide-open contest featuring several familiar figures and a few first-time entrants.
Thibaut Courtois is again in the mix, underlining the standing he has built over several years. Barcelona’s Joan García has also earned a first nomination after a season that put him firmly among the leading candidates. Arsenal’s David Raya, last season’s Premier League Golden Glove winner, is on the list too, while Emiliano Martínez returns to the spotlight after being nominated for his work with former employers Aston Villa and later joining Chelsea this summer.
The men’s shortlist also includes Matvey Safonov and Gregor Kobel, plus the Saudi Arabia-based pair of Yassine Bounou and Édouard Mendy. Unai Simón is recognised after helping Spain to World Cup glory, while Vozinha completes the lineup after another notable campaign at 40 years old.
Courtois and Martínez have both lifted the prize before, with Martínez a two-time winner in 2023 and 2024.
On the women’s side, Hannah Hampton is back after becoming the first winner of the Women’s Yashin Trophy last year. She is joined by Ann-Katrin Berger and Cata Coll, who finished second and third in the inaugural edition. Manchester City’s Ayaka Yamashita and Kansas City Current’s Lorena complete the women’s shortlist.
The full lists confirm a competition that mixes proven pedigree with new challengers, and the final outcome now depends on which goalkeeper can turn nomination into the highest honour.
Arsenal
Ballon d’Or 2026 Coach shortlist takes shape with five men and five women named
France Football has named the 2026 Coach of the Year nominees across the men’s and women’s game.
France Football has released the full list of nominees for the 2026 Coach of the Year award, with leading managers from the men’s and women’s game competing for one of the sport’s most respected honours.
Luis Enrique returns to the shortlist in 2026 after guiding Paris Saint-Germain to back-to-back Champions League titles. That achievement made them only the second side in the post-European Cup era to win the competition in successive seasons.
Mikel Arteta is also included after an outstanding campaign with Arsenal. Their only setback came in the European final against PSG, but the season still ended with Premier League success and a first title there in 22 years.
Luis de la Fuente remains in the frame after a strong run of results for Spain. He was third in the rankings in 2024 following his team’s continental triumph that summer, and he is back among the contenders after La Roja’s World Cup success this year.
Unai Emery earns a place on the list after another impressive year with Aston Villa. The club lifted the Europa League last season, then finished fourth in the Premier League to secure Champions League qualification.
Vincent Kompany completes the men’s shortlist after a dominant spell with Bayern Munich that ended in a Bundesliga title. He is the only non-Spaniard among the five nominees.
The women’s award will be decided for the third time next month, with a new winner set to follow Emma Hayes in 2024 and Sarina Wiegman in 2025.
Jonatan Giráldez, Andrée Jeglertz, Nils Nielsen, Pere Romeu and Elena Sadiku make up that shortlist, with Sadiku having started the season with Celtic before taking BK Häcken to Europa Cup glory.
