Aston Villa Fixtures: Last-16 draw sends Villa to Lille as Forest and Palace learn opponents
The Europa League and Europa Conference League last-16 draw confirmed the next opponents for three English clubs, and fans can already mark March 12 and March 19 on their calendars — the latest schedule in the european knockout phase and the reason aston villa fixtures are now set against Lille.
Aston Villa Fixtures set: Lille awaits in a repeat tie
Aston Villa have been drawn against Lille in the Europa League last 16, a repeat of their Conference League quarter-final in 2024 that Unai Emery's side won on penalties; Villa finished second in the league phase table and are seeded, giving them home advantage in the second leg.
Forest drawn with Midtjylland after familiar league meeting
Nottingham Forest will face Danish side Midtjylland in the last 16 after the sides already met this season, with Midtjylland having won 3-2 at the City Ground in October when Forest were managed by Ange Postecoglou; under new boss Vitor Pereira, Forest sealed their place in the last 16 by beating Fenerbahce 4-2 on aggregate in their knockout play-off.
Crystal Palace to meet AEK Larnaca in Conference League
Crystal Palace were drawn against Cypriot side AEK Larnaca in the Conference League last 16, a tie that offers Palace a chance for revenge after a 1-0 home defeat to Larnaca in October in the league phase; unseeded Palace will host the first leg on March 12 and travel to Cyprus for the second leg on March 19.
Seeding, potential quarter-final routes and what’s next
Seeded Villa will host the second leg against Lille, while unseeded Forest must travel to Denmark for their second leg; should Villa beat Lille they would face either Roma or Bologna in the quarter-finals, and if Forest overcome Midtjylland they would play either Stuttgart or Porto. If Oliver Glasner's Crystal Palace progress, they would face either Fiorentina or Rakow Czestochowa.
Fixture times and confirmed match list for March 12
The last-16 first legs take place on March 12 and the second legs are scheduled for March 19. The published first-leg list for Thursday March 12 (kick-off 8pm unless stated) includes: Lille vs Aston Villa, kick-off 5. 45pm; Nottingham Forest vs Midtjylland; and Crystal Palace vs AEK Larnaca.
There will be no repeat of last season's all-English Europa League final — that match saw Tottenham defeat Manchester United in Bilbao — and the draw sets up the possibility that Villa and Forest could meet in the semi-finals if both progress.
All clubs now prepare for the confirmed dates: first legs on March 12 and second legs on March 19, when the last-16 ties will be decided and quarter-final pairings will begin to take shape.
