Will Villa fare better after European fixtures this season?

While it is important to pick out local derbies and great away days, the reality of modern football is figuring out who you will be playing after European games in the 2025-26 Premier League fixtures.Upon the release of the schedule on Wednesday, one Villa supporter told us that this season's selections "look winnable".If that happens, it will be welcome relief after Unai Emery's side struggled for points after Champions League group stage games in 2024-25.In fact, they picked up just one win from the eight games, leaving them with a win percentage of just 12.5%.However, there were difficult opponents in those run of games, including away at eventual champions Liverpool and top-five chasing Chelsea and Nottingham Forest.This season, it is six home games and three matches against teams that finished last term in the bottom half as well as a game with promoted Burnley.Sure, they will now have to contend with a Thursday-Sunday schedule, which some teams have struggled with in the past, but Villa had no issue with that two years ago when they qualified from the Champions League.And, given the nature of their post-Europe opponents, they can perhaps take further comfort from hopefully being fresher when facing the teams they expect to be competing with for Champions League spots again.

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British and Irish Lions winners and losers after Andy Farrell's side fall to 28-24 defeat by Argentina - including one forward who had an outstanding display

After months of anticipation, the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour got off to a false start as Andy Farrell's side were beaten 28-24 by Argentina in Dublin. MailSport's Alex Bywater was at the Aviva Stadium to look at the players who stood out for head coach Farrell and who struggled to get going… Ellis Genge (prop) Genge really put down a marker. He anchored a Lions scrum that had dominance over the Argentinians – no mean feat given the Pumas pride themselves on their work in that area – and was also a marauding threat in the loose. Genge had a great carry in the build-up to Tadhg Beirne's second-half try. He looks like a man set for a big tour. Fin Smith (fly-half) Emulated his grandfather Tom Elliot by becoming a Lion and manipulated the Argentina defence well, creating one-on-one opportunities for his dangerous outside backs. A first look at the 2025 Lions suggested they will play with an Ireland-style pod system in attack. Smith had plenty of forward options to use on short lines, but also out wide. It was noticeable how the Lions backs were always attached to each pod. While Farrell's men were understandably far from perfect, Smith can be pleased with his outing. Tommy Freeman (wing) Scored in every round of the Six Nations for England and was a lively operator here, always looking for work. Farrell wants his wingers heavily involved all over the field and that suits Freeman down to the ground. Quick and powerful in the carry. Will be a key man Down Under. Sione Tuipulotu (centre) Hasn't played much this season and unfortunately, there was a degree of rust to his performance. Dropped one ball from Freeman. It would be harsh to blame a team's defensive struggles on one player alone, but the Lions were breached too often in his 13 channel. Probably better off at inside centre. Will definitely improve on this the more he plays. Luke Cowan-Dickie (hooker) Not a great birthday for the Sale hooker. Had an early try ruled out and struggled at line-out time. Too many of the Lions' throws went awry, with a couple overthrown. Cowan-Dickie did play a part in the strong Lions scrum but he was replaced early in the second half. Line-out didn't improve with Ronan Kelleher on in his place. British & Irish Lions: M Smith 5; Freeman 7.5, Tuipulotu 4, Aki 6 (Daly 60), Van der Merwe 6 (Hansen 60); F Smith 7, Mitchell 5.5 (Williams 50,7); Genge 8 (Schoeman 60), Cowan-Dickie 4 (Kelleher 50), Bealham 7.5 (Furlong 60) (Bealham 80+1,7.5), Itoje (capt) 6.5 (Cummings 72,5), Beirne 7, Curry 6.5, Morgan 6 (Pollock 50), Earl 4

Metro

an hour ago

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John Obi Mikel worried for Chelsea star who keeps 'disappearing' in games

John Obi Mikel has admitted he has concerns over Cole Palmer after his anonymous performance for Chelsea against Flamengo in the Club World Cup. After a stunning first season at Stamford Bridge, Palmer's impact at Chelsea dropped off during the 2024-25 campaign. While he still ended the campaign with a very respectable 15 goals and 12 assists, he managed just one Premier League goal from mid-January onwards – that effort coming from the penalty spot. The England international endured another quiet evening as Chelsea fell to a 3-1 lead against Brazilian side Flamengo on Friday night. Palmer was replaced by Marc Guiu with eight minutes of the match remaining while his side were chasing an equaliser. Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro's Football Newsletter. Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we'll send you so we can get football news tailored to you. Former Blues midfielder Mikel suggested Friday's performance was the latest in a worrying trend for Palmer, believing his performances are a result of the midfielder becoming a 'marked man' among the opposition. 'It is a bit worrying,' Mikel told DAZN. 'Cole is a fantastic player, everything goes through him but sometimes he disappears in games where you don't see him and that has happened again. 'But he needs to know that he is now a marked man. 'You will play against teams and they will know if you take out Cole Palmer, you can nullify the way they play. 'So he needs to find a different way. Maybe the manager needs to help him in terms of navigating games and opponents. More Trending 'Maybe try to free him, give him more space. If he plays well, we play well, so I hope the combination between him and [Liam] Delap will get better. 'So [I am] a little bit worried but Cole is a fantastic player and will hopefully continue to develop.' Chelsea won their opening game of the Club World Cup against LAFC on Monday but defeat to Flamengo means they need a win over Tunisia's ES Tunis next week to guarantee qualification for the knockout stages of the competition. They will be without Nicolas Jackson for that match after the striker was shown a straight red card just four minutes after coming off the bench to replace Liam Delap. MORE: How many games will Nicolas Jackson miss after red card at Club World Cup? MORE: John Obi Mikel blasts 'stupid' Nicolas Jackson and sends transfer warning after red card MORE: Flamengo 3-1 Chelsea: Nicolas Jackson sent off in Club World Cup collapse

BBC News

an hour ago

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Mills runs second fastest British 1500m in Paris

George Mills ran the second fastest time by a Briton in the men's 1500m as he finished third at the Diamond League in beating Sir Mo Farah's long-standing British 5,000m record in Oslo last week, Mills, 26, again bettered Farah to climb to second in the all-time UK list with a time of three minutes 28.36 Josh Kerr has run the distance faster for Great Britain - in 3:27.79 at the 2024 Paris Habz won the race in front of his home crowd by clocking 3:27.49 - a meet record and French national record - while Kenya's Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech set a world junior record in second in the non-Diamond League race. Great Britain's Amy Hunt took second in the women's 200m with a season best 22.45 to finish behind American Anavia Battle while former world champion Dina Asher-Smith had to settle for sixth despite a quick Hunter Bell, targeting her second Diamond League win of the season, also finished sixth in the women's 1500m as Ireland's Sarah Healy came second with a personal best 3:57.15, behind Kenya's Nelly Diamond League will move to Eugene and Monaco next before the series visits the UK for a sold-out London Athletics Meet on 19 finals will take place in Zurich on 27 and 28 August - just over a fortnight before the start of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.