Aston Villa welcome Young Boys in the Match-Day 5 of the Europa League as they look to continue their good form, Softfootball reports.
Interestingly, both sides met last season in the UEFA Champions League and Villa won by 3-0 but Thursday’s match will be a different game entirely. Villa will look to maintain their automatic qualifying spot while the Switzerland based side are hoping to move into the play-off spot.
The Clarets are already in a Christmas celebratory mood but also got their eyes firmly fixed on this fixture. On the clubs official X handle, they shared a lovely Xmas video. They posted:
All is Claret, all is Blue. 💜
Merry Christmas and Up the Villa too! 🎄 pic.twitter.com/BJtLLikuLO
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 25, 2025Aston Villa beat Leads 2-1 at the weekend after coming from behind to secure the win and has lost just two matches in their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Head-to-Head
Aston Villa and Young Boys have met just once in European competition and Unai Emery’s side won convincingly 3-0 on a brilliant UEFA Champions League night.
Star Player
John McGinn, who has made over 300 appearances for Aston Villa is undoubtfully the star man for the side and a midfield enforcer. Powerful, tireless and a goal-getter. He recently helped Scotland qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will be ready to help the club win the Europa League.
For Razvan Lucescu’s men, Chris Bedia is the ultimate key player for the side, having scored 14 goals in 21 games so far this season, including nine strikes in 13 Swiss Super League outings.
Team News
Tyrone Mings and Andres Garcia remain sidelined with injuries, while Amadou Onana is rated doubtful after missing the win over Leeds United with a muscle problem.
Ross Barkley is now eligible to play in the Europa League after replacing the injured Mings in Villa’s List A squad and could start in midfield alongside Lamare Bogarde, while Ditch winger Donyell Malen may replace Ollie Watkins up front.
Jadon Sancho, Evann Guessand, Victor Lindelof and Ian Maatsen will all be hoping to force their way back into the first XI, but Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres may retain their places at centre-back, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in goal.
Aston Villa are fully focused on the Europa League as they mentioned via the club’s official X handle. The posted:
Turning our attention to the UEFA Europa League 🔜 pic.twitter.com/KBeCHXhFD5
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) November 25, 2025As for Young Boys, Armin Gigovic is suspended, while former West Ham midfielder Edimilson Fernandes is injured along with Zachary Athekame and Facinet Conte.
Englishman Ryan Andrews, a summer signing from Watford, will battle with ex-Man United academy graduate Saidy Janko for a start at right-back, while left-back Jaouen Hadjam and midfielder Rayan Raveloson could both start. Top scorer, Chris Bedia is expected to line-up alongside 10-goal Christian Fassnacht in attack.
Aston Villa Probable XI:
Martinez; Lindelof, Konsa, Torres, Maatsen; Bogarde, Barkley; Guessand, Rogers, Sancho; Malen
Young Boys Probable XI:
Keller; Andrews, Lauper, Zoukrou, Hadjam; Raveloson, Pech; Fassnacht, Sanches, Virginius; Bedia
Softfootball Prediction
Aston Villa are in a very good form and Young Boys are very good with their attacking play. A goal-fest is expected in this one. Aston Villa 4-2 Young Boys.
