Europa League & Conference League: Thrilling Ties Ahead

0:00On March 12, English football fans have a big night ahead and the Europa League and Conference League last 16 first legs, Aston Villa heads to Leal at 5.45pm. Greenwich mean time, while Nottingham Forest hosts Midgilland and Crystal Palace, welcomes back AEK. Larnaca, both at 8pm, Leal Boas veteran striker Olivier Giraud of Front, the 39-year-old France World Cup winner and all-time leading scorer for his country, joined on a free transfer this summer. He's netted 19 Europa League goals since turning 30 and has a perfect scoring record in his last eight games against Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace faces a familiar foe in AEK Larnaca after losing one kneel to them at home in their first major European match this season. Palace recovered strongly, grabbing points late in the group stage and advancing passes Ayrinsky on aggregate last month. Nottingham Forest's manager, Vitor Pereira, refuses to prioritize their Premier League relegation scrap over Europe.

1:01Sitting just outside the drop zone on goal difference, Forest dreams of a first continental trophy since 1980 and Pereira plans to balance. Both fronts with the squad's depth, Aston Villa impressed by finishing second in the Europa League league phase and welcomes Captain John McGinn back from a knee injury that sidelined. Him for 10 games. With these intriguing ties underway, the second leg's promise even more drama.