Aston Villa seek to halt slide against struggling Maccabi Tel Aviv | OneFootball

Aston Villa will aim to steady themselves in Europe when they host Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League tomorrow night, seeking a response to defeats that have checked their recent momentum.

Unai Emery’s side were beaten 2-1 by Go Ahead Eagles in their last European outing, a result that ended their perfect start to the League Phase, and then fell 2-0 at Liverpool last weekend.

That loss at Anfield was a reminder of how quickly confidence can dip after such a strong domestic run, despite their impressive 1-0 victory over Manchester City only days earlier.

Those setbacks have not undone Villa’s progress, but Emery knows the timing demands a reaction. Errors at both ends cost them at Anfield, and with a Premier League trip to Bournemouth looming on Sunday, he will want his side to reassert control and rhythm in front of their own fans.

Fortunately, the task appears favourable. Maccabi Tel Aviv have failed to win any of their three Europa League matches this season, sitting near the bottom of the standings after defeats to Dinamo Zagreb and Midtjylland.

Their domestic form remains solid, but their continental performances have lacked conviction.

Villa, on the other hand, have been a different proposition at home. They have lost only one of their last 27 matches at Villa Park in all competitions, a record that underlines both their consistency and Emery’s emphasis on structure.Tomorrow’s return to home soil therefore arrives at a welcome time.

The Spaniard has urged his team to be more clinical in the final third, with Ollie Watkins yet to rediscover his spark after a strong start to the season.

Efficiency in attack will be key, particularly as Villa look to prevent their recent dip from becoming a trend.

This match also marks the three-year anniversary of Emery’s first game in charge, a milestone that reflects the scale of Villa’s evolution under him. But progress must be maintained, not assumed.

A win here would reinforce their European credentials and restore the sense of authority that defined their early campaign.

Facing an opponent yet to find its footing in Europe, Villa could not ask for a more fitting moment to respond.