# Emery looks to show Villa can compete with elite

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/emery-looks-to-show-villa-can-compete-with-elite/
- Published: 2026-11-03T07:33:17+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-03T08:59:15+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c5ev3m9ddzgmo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Sport

## Key points

- Emery faces Barcelona as Villa test their progress among Europe’s elite.
- Villa won the Europa League in May, ending a 30-year trophy drought.
- Emery’s contract runs until 2029, with a new deal expected.

## Summary

Unai Emery returns to Spain with Aston Villa to face Barcelona in the Champions League, four years after taking charge of the club. Villa say they are ready to compete with Europe’s elite under his leadership, following major progress in domestic and European football.

Emery’s original goals were to win a trophy and take Villa into Europe: they won the Europa League in May, ending a 30-year wait for silverware, and are now in the Champions League. His contract runs until 2029, and Villa expect a new deal after the European triumph. Barcelona have six points in the league stage to Villa’s nine, while Emery’s detailed preparation is seen as a possible way to exploit defensive weaknesses.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.