Aston Villa extended their winning run in the Europa League with a 2-0 victory over Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv on Thursday, in a match overshadowed by security tensions and political controversy. More than 700 police officers were deployed around Villa Park as authorities prepared for potential unrest tied to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Morgan Rogers set up the opener just before halftime, threading a clever pass to Ian Maatsen, who finished calmly from a tight angle. Donyell Malen sealed the win on the hour mark, converting from the penalty spot to give Villa their third win in the competition.
The fixture was classified as high-risk after West Midlands Police banned Maccabi fans from attending, citing concerns over potential violence and hate crimes that marred a previous match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Ajax in Amsterdam last year. The decision drew widespread criticism, including from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called the ban “the wrong decision.”
Despite the ban, tensions ran high outside the stadium. Around 200 protesters, including members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, gathered near Villa Park carrying Palestinian flags and banners calling for a boycott of Israel. Officers briefly formed a cordon after an Israeli flag was reportedly displayed nearby, and six arrests were made before kick-off. Among those detained were a 21-year-old man for refusing to remove a face mask and a 17-year-old boy for ignoring a dispersal order.
Inside the stadium, Villa maintained focus to secure a professional win and strengthen their position in Group D.
Elsewhere in the Europa League, Nottingham Forest was held to a 0-0 draw at Sturm Graz after Morgan Gibbs-White missed a first-half penalty. Despite dominating possession, Forest’s late push was denied when Nicolás Domínguez struck the post in stoppage time.
In Denmark, Midtjylland maintained their perfect record with a blistering 3-1 win over Celtic. Three goals in seven minutes — from Martin Erlić, Mikel Gogorza, and Djú Franculino — stunned the Scottish club, which remains winless under interim coach Martin O’Neill. Reo Hatate scored a late consolation from the penalty spot.
Rangers’ struggles continued as they fell 2-0 to Roma in Glasgow, with Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini on target. Elsewhere, Real Betis defeated Lyon 2-0, Genk shocked Braga 4-3, and Freiburg earned a comeback 3-1 victory over Nice. Stuttgart, PAOK, and Celta Vigo also secured strong wins.
In the Conference League, Mainz rallied to beat Fiorentina 2-1 in Daniele Galloppa’s debut as interim coach, while Ismaïla Sarr’s brace led Crystal Palace to a 3-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar.
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