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      Why have Aston Villa changed their shirt sponsor for Europa Conference League clash with Ajax?

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      ASTON VILLA continue their Europa Conference League campaign with a trip to Ajax TONIGHT.Unai Emery’s side breezed through the group stage, topping Group E with 13 points.Ollie Watkins has been in fine form in the Premier League and the Europa Conference LeagueCredit: GETTYThe Villans are also in fantastic form in the Premier League this season, sitting fourth in the English top flight.Only Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal have a superior points tally to the West Midlands outfit.Villa fans are hoping they can defy the odds and secure a spot in next season’s Champions League.But this campaign, the Villans are hoping for European success in the Conference League, with a trip to Dutch giants Ajax next on the agenda.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLWhy have Aston Villa changed their shirt sponsor for their clash with Ajax?Aston Villa will be wearing the logo of Acorns, the children’s hospice charity, when they take on Ajax in the Netherlands on Thursday night.The Villans have been a long-term partner of the charity – and the Acons logo was on the front of their iconic shirts between 2008 and 2010.Acorns was Aston Villa’s front-of-shirt sponsor between 2008-2010Credit: GETTYAston Villa’s primary front-of-shirt sponsor this season has been gambling firm BK8, but due to Dutch advertising regulations, the West Midlands outfit will be unable to have the brand on their kits on Thursday night.In 2022, the Netherlands introduced stricter rules on advertising gambling, which included banning gambling adverts and preventing gambling-related kit and team sponsorships.Most read in FootballVilla also changed their kit sponsor earlier this season when they travelled to Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, with the Aston Villa Foundation being their front-of-shirt sponsor.What TV channel is Ajax vs Aston Villa on and can it be live streamed?
      Ajax vs Aston Villa will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 3.
      You can live stream the match on the discovery+ app/website.
      Alternatively, you can keep up to date with all the action by following SunSport’s live blog. More

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      Premier League’s Euro adventurers facing crunch week in fight to land England fifth spot in revamped Champions League

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      ENGLAND’S Euro adventurers can take a massive step towards securing the Prem a fifth Champions League spot for next season this week..Uefa’s competitions revamp will see the Champions League extended to 36 teams and a “Swiss model” league system from next season.Arsenal are amongst the six English clubs still in European competitionCredit: GettyLiverpool return to Europa League action against Sparta Prague on ThursdayCredit: ReutersTwo of the extra places go to the top two performing nations across the three Uefa competitions in the preceding campaign.England go into the completion of the last 16 stage of the Champions League – and the full equivalent in the Europa League and Conference League – in third position in the table, behind Italy and Germany.But unlike the first stage of post-Christmas knock-out action, when only Manchester City and Arsenal were involved, all six of the Prem’s remaining teams will play this month.And by the time the quarter-final survivors are known, it will be far clearer if England is on course for an extra place – or if the race for the top four will become even more vital.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLCity will lead the English expedition when they complete their last 16 tie against Copenhagen, after the 3-1 win in the Danish capital, although Arsenal’s home leg against Porto is next week.But Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa are all in action on Thursday, with the chance to propel England into the top two of the coefficient table.All wins are worth two points, with a draw earning one, plus bonus points for reaching specfic stages of the three competitions.A country’s total points haul is then divided by the number of teams which entered across the three events at the start of the season.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSThat is why, despite grossing the most total points so far – 111 – England’s current total, divided by eight, is 13.875pts, with Italy on top with 15.571 and Germany second on 14.5.City’s expected win over the Danish champions would add 0.375pts to the Englnd tally.Europa League draw revealed as Liverpool face Sparta Prague, Brighton get horror draw and West Ham face familiar foeMeanwhile, Bayern Munich and Leipzig must come back from first leg defeats by Lazio and Real Madrid respectively this week.Failure to do so would open the door for England – with all four teams playing away from home – to overtake the Germans and move into a great position on Thursday – especially given the respective draws.Liverpool, red hot favourites for the Europa League, face Czechs Sparta Prague but Brighton’s trip to Roma and West Ham’s third meeting of the season with Freiburg can directly impact the race of the extra slots.A win over two legs for Villa against Ajax would also bolster the Prem position.Serie A has three sides still in the Europa League, with Milan and Atalanta alongside Roma, and Fiorentina in the Conference League.Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen and Dortmund – whose Champions League second leg is next week – are the remaining Bundesliga clubs left.The other candidate who could get back into the mix is Spain, currently fifth on 13.187 but with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Sociedad – who trail PSG 2-0 – also in the Champions League and Villarreal in the Europa League.A clean slate of English wins this week would net a total haul of 1.375 points, with a repeat and progression next week – Arsenal start 1-0 down against Porto –  adding a further 1.75pts including bonuses.Treble winners Manchester City lead Copenhagen following their first leg in DenmarkCredit: GettyExits for Leipzig, Bayern and Freiburg – West Ham won both group stage meetings – would leave German hopes of retaking the lead over England hugely damaged.And further down the coefficient table, Rangers will be urging Liverpool, Milan and Swiss side Servette to all oust their Czech opponents, espeically if they are ejected by Portuguese giants Benfica.READ MORE SUN STORIESScotland are currently 10th in the five-year country standings, holding onto the last automatic league stage spot for the 2025-26 version of the Champions League.But the Czechs are close behind and can overtake Scotland, meaning the SPL champions would have to go into the preliminary round knock-out stage in August 2025. More

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      ‘Super league by another name’ fume fans as Uefa confirm new Champions League format that is ‘ruining’ football

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      UEFA’S new Champions League format has been slammed by fans for “ruining” football.European football’s governing body have confirmed the new layout for the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League.Fans have slammed Uefa’s new Champions League formatCredit: GettyThe changes are set to come into effect from the start of next season.Uefa’s Premier competition will be extended to 36 teams from 32 for the 2024-25 season.However, fans are unconvinced by the changes and have even compared the new format to the failed European Super League.One angry supporter wrote on X: “Super league by another name.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLAnother added: “They’re ruining the beautiful game.”A third fan also commented: “So it’s the Super League in disguise.”Meanwhile, one more said: “Basically the Super League.”The new system will see 36 teams playing in the main part of all three competitions.Most read in Champions LeagueBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSInstead of eight groups of four clubs in the initial phase, there will be a new “league” format.Supercomputer reveals Arsenal’s chances of winning Champions League after toothless Porto loss without a shot on targetEach club will play eight matches in the opening phase – against seeded opposition, in a system designed to ensure that teams play opponents of similar difficulty.The format will be mirrored across all three competitions, except for six matches instead of eight in the Conference League.The top eight teams in the “final” table will automatically go through to the last 16, where they will be joined by the eight play-off winners of ties between the sides placed ninth to 24th in the table.Despite there being just eight matches in the opening phase, European matches will be spread over 10 midweek slots.The Europa League and Conference League will each have a week when matches can be played across Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday as the standalone competition being played.Uefa’s new format is set to come into effect ahead of next season’s Champions LeagueCredit: APThe 2024/25 Champions League will also see the first implication of two additional qualifying spots.These are to be awarded to the nations that are top of the “country coefficient” chart each season.READ MORE SUN STORIESThat is a table based on the results of a nation’s teams in all three European competitions.The total points earned by every nation’s clubs – with bonus points for reaching certain stages plus match-related points – are divided by the number of sides in European competitions. More

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      European fixtures key to huge points for Dream Team managers across next two Gameweeks

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      ANY Dream Team manager worth their salt knows to squeeze the schedule for all it’s worth.The logic is simple and undeniable: more fixtures equals more point-scoring opportunities.
      This ploy isn’t totally fool-proof but it generally pays dividends over the course of a season.

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      Smart options for Gameweeks 26 and 27?Credit: Dream Team
      Looking at the next fortnight or so, it appears the upcoming European games hold the key to plentiful points.
      In Gameweek 26, five teams will fulfil two fixtures with Manchester City, Liverpool, West Ham, Brighton and Aston Villa all in continental action in midweek after a full round of Premier League games at the weekend.
      Pep Guardiola’s side host neighbours Manchester United on Sunday before welcoming FC Copenhagen to the Etihad on Wednesday night.
      Given Erling Haaland (£7.5m) plundered 40 points in Gameweek 25, the captaincy debate is likely to be a simple one for most gaffers.
      Elsewhere, Liverpool travel to Nottingham Forest and Sparta Prague in what has to be considered a favourable double header.
      Dream Team bosses eagerly await availability updates on Mohamed Salah (£6.7m) and Darwin Nunez (£4.5m).
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      Salah will be a popular recruit if deemed availableCredit: Getty
      Brighton also have back-to-back away days in the form of Fulham in the league then Roma in the Europa League.
      Pascal Gross (£4.5m) is among Dream Team’s most in-form players at present having earned 49 points across his last five outings.
      West Ham are the third and final English team still active in the Europa League.
      The Hammers face Freiburg (again) after a trip to Everton at the weekend.
      Jarrod Bowen’s (£4.5m) hat-trick against Brentford on Monday suddenly looks very timely indeed.
      The England international provided healthy returns for much of last season thanks in no small part to his ultimately triumphant Europa Conference League commitments.
      This season it’s Aston Villa who are set to take part in the knockout stages of the continent’s tertiary competition.
      31 goal involvements and countingCredit: Getty
      Unai Emery’s side drew a big name in the round of 16 in the form of Ajax but it’s worth noting that the Dutch giants have been below par for much of 2023/24.
      Jordan Henderson and company are without a win in their last four league games and currently reside fifth in the Eredivisie table.
      Ollie Watkins (£4.5m), Douglas Luiz (£3.9m), John McGinn (£3.7m), Emi Martinez (£3.1m) and Leon Bailey (£3m) are therefore all tempting options.
      The former has scored 16 goals and provided 15 assists in all competitions this season while the latter has quietly amassed 20 goal involvements.
      The Villains travel to Luton on Saturday for their Premier League match-up with the Hatters having just shipped six goals to City in the FA Cup.
      Back among the goalsCredit: Getty

      Looking forward to Gameweek 27, it’s Arsenal who will be in Champions League action in Man City’s place for their second leg against Porto.
      Whereas Liverpool, Brighton, West Ham and Aston Villa will all fulfil their respective second legs in consecutive Gameweeks.
      These four clubs are therefore the only teams with two fixtures each in Gameweeks 26 and 27.
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      This clearly hasn’t escaped Dream Team bosses as the four most-popular recruits ahead of Saturday’s deadline are currently: Watkins, Bowen, Virgil van Dijk (£3.9m) and Douglas Luiz.
      Targeting the midweek European fixtures is likely to be a profitable strategy.

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      Fans fear for Premier League’s fifth Champions League spot after tricky Europa League draw

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      FANS fear the Premier League could miss out on a fifth Champions League spot after English teams were dealt a tricky Europa League draw.Uefa’s expansion of the Champions League next season means there will be an extra automatic place from the domestic leagues of the two best-performing countries across the three European competitions.
      West Ham and Brighton could play a big role in boosting the Premier League’s coefficient
      England stood in third, narrowly behind second-placed Germany, at the end of the group phase in December.
      But the Prem’s coefficient ranking will be boosted if English clubs continue to progress in European competition this season.
      However Arsenal are in danger of Champions League elimination after losing the first leg of their second round tie with Porto 1-0.
      While Brighton have now been handed a tricky tie against Roma, who won the Europa Conference League in 2022.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Liverpool will be expected to beat Sparta Prague but West Ham face a challenging test in Freiburg.
      Aston Villa, meanwhile, have been paired with Ajax in the Conference League draw.
      Fans fear the Premier League’s coefficient will take a hit if Brighton and West Ham exit the Europa League in the next round, particularly the Hammers as opponents Freiburg play in the Bundesliga and a win for them would push Germany further ahead of England.
      One supporter reacted to the draw saying: “Premier League’s coefficient is finished if West Ham and Brighton both go out. More damaging if West Ham go out.”
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      Another added: “West Ham have an easy draw….more sad for Brighton”
      And a Chelsea fan wrote: “It’s looking long for our chances of Europe if we lose this Sunday.”
      Uefa’s coefficient ranking sees all the match and bonus points acquired by a country’s clubs divided by the number of teams involved at the start of the season – with England and Spain both having the maximum possible eight.
      It meant that City’s win over Copenhagen and a potential Arsenal win at Porto can earn England a maximum 0.5 ranking points.
      By contrast, Germany with five teams in action, could have earned 2.142pts, France (five clubs) 3.167pts, Spain (six clubs) 1.5pts and Italy (five teams) 2.286pts.
      The Premier League was not helped by Man Utd and Newcastle’s last-placed finishes in the Champions League group stage, which saw them exit Europe altogether.
      ‘Very good, I like that’ says Europa League draw host after Man Utd icon John O’Shea’s cheeky joke live on TV More

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      Legia Warsaw unveil X-rated tifo after Uefa shut down ultras section of stadium as shocked fans say ‘take a bow, lads’

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      LEGIA WARSAW fans unveiled an X-rated tifo ahead of their Europa Conference League clash with Molde.The Polish side have had plenty of run-ins with Uefa this season.
      Legia Warsaw’s Zyleta stand usually populated by ultras featured a message to Uefa
      Legia advanced from a group that also included Premier League outfit Aston Villa.
      During the group phase, Dutch police claimed that Legia fans attacked cops ahead of a clash with AZ Alkmaar, even knocking one unconscious.
      The following month, 30 supporters were arrested after trouble with police ahead of Legia’s 2-1 defeat at Villa Park.
      Following the incident against AZ Alkmaar, Legia were fined by Uefa.
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      European football’s governing body also banned supporters over the age of 14 from sitting in their Zyleta end, the stand frequented by the club’s ultras, for tonight’s clash with Molde.
      Ahead of the game, a banner could be seen reading “This time you won, Uefa” across the Zyleta stand.
      But as kick-off fast approached, a huge tifo was revealed in the main stand, featuring an X-rated message.
      Amid a green, white and red background depicting the club’s colours, a Lego man could be seen wearing sunglasses.
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      Beneath the Lego man was the message: “Surprise, Motherf***ers!”
      Legia fans have already been banned from the club’s next five European away games.
      Scotland fans unveil ‘biggest’ Hampden tifo panning across THREE STANDS as Tartan Army show incredible support
      And the club could find themselves in further hot water for their fans’ latest tifo.
      Legia won’t have any more European games this season regardless, having been knocked out by Molde.
      The Ekstraklasa side went into tonight’s second leg trailing the Norwegians 3-2 from last week’s first match.
      They were eliminated without much of a fight, with Fredrik Gulbrandsen giving the visitors the lead inside the first two minutes.
      Eirik Hestad made it 2-0 on the night on 20 minutes, before Gulbrandsen added his second in the 67th to round off Molde’s 6-2 aggregate win.
      Legia’s main stand unveiled a huge X-rated dig at Uefa ahead of kick-off
      The message was revealed as players lined up ahead of the gameCredit: Reuters
      Deflated Legia players clap their fans after their defeatCredit: Reuters More

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      I beat Mourinho to Europa League title after KOing Man Utd… now I’m taking shock new job after 4 months unemployed

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      EUROPA LEAGUE winner Jose Luis Mendilibar is set to take over as Olympiacos’ new manager.Mendilibar helped steer Sevilla away from relegation when he was appointed late last season in March as Jorge Sampaoli’s replacement.
      Ex-Sevilla boss Jose Luis Mendilibar is taking over at OlympiacosCredit: Rex
      Mendilibar eliminated Man Utd and beat Jose Mourinho in the Europa League FinalCredit: Getty
      Mendilibar will sign a €1.5m contract until the end of the season with the option to extend for another yearCredit: Getty
      And the Basque tactician led the Spanish giants to a record seventh Europa League title, earning qualification to this season’s Champions League.
      This poses as a huge appointment for Olympiacos amid a turbulent campaign that has seen the Piraeus outfit plummet to fourth place.
      SunSport understand Mendilibar will sign a contract until the end of the season with the option to extend for another year.
      Sources also report the ex-Athletic Bilbao manager’s deal is worth €1.5million (£1.3m).
      Read More on Football
      The Spaniard is arriving in Greece today and will attend his new team’s Superleague clash against OFI in Piraeus this evening.
      Mendilibar is then set for baptism by fire as he will make his debut on Thursday’s crunch Europa Conference League play-off clash at home against Ferencvaros.
      The experienced coach stunned Europe last season as he eliminated Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United in the Europa League quarter-finals and then offloaded Juventus in the semi-finals.
      He then beat Jose Mourinho’s Roma in the final on penalties after a 1-1 draw despite Sevilla’s many struggles.
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      Sevilla then almost upset Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Super Cup at Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium in Greece, which is the home of his new team.
      Youssef En-Nesyri opened the scoring before Cole Palmer’s equaliser took the game to a penalty shootout where City prevailed after Nemanja Gudelj missed his spot-kick.
      Youssef En-Nesyri scores incredible overhead kick in Sevilla training
      Mendilibar was sacked in October as Sevilla’s struggles continued with a poor run of five losses and just two wins in 13 matches across all competitions.
      Olympiacos have a long history of appointing managers with immense European success.
      That includes the likes of ex-Barcelona boss Ernesto Valverde, Monaco hero Leonardo Jardim and current Fulham boss Marco Silva. More

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      Jose Mourinho’s ‘parting dig’ at Roma revealed after former Chelsea boss felt ‘betrayed’ by sacking

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      JOSE MOURINHO left his Europa Conference League ring behind after leaving Roma.The ring had been gifted to him by the squad after he guided the club to their first European trophy for 61 years in 2022.
      Jose Mourinho left his Europa Conference League ring behind after his Roma sackingCredit: AP
      However, he was reportedly left feeling betrayed by his players after his sacking last month.
      According to Il Messaggero, via Tutto Mercato, Mourinho was unhappy after the squad immediately backed the choice of Daniele De Rossi as his replacement.
      The report adds that he left his ring behind at the club’s training ground, placing it inside the locked of captain Lorenzo Pellegrini.
      Mourinho has a history of giving away items commemorating his success by throwing medals into the crowd after winning honours with his previous clubs.
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      He was sacked by Roma following the 3-1 loss to AC Milan on January 14 after two-and-a-half years in charge.
      Chelsea fans have since called for Mourinho to return to the club for a third spell.
      Meanwhile, he has also been linked with both Manchester United and Barcelona.
      As for De Rossi, the former Roma captain was appointed as manager until the end of the season.
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      He has since won both of his matches in charge, with a pair of 2-1 victories over Hellas Verona and Salernitana.
      Roma have risen from ninth to sixth with those wins ahead of facing Cagliari at home on Monday night.
      Mourinho’s BIGGEST Barcelona bust-ups over the years More