For the vast majority of my adult life, Midlands clubs have been in the shadows.
Sure, there have been real exceptions.
Leicester City’s Premier League miracle in 2016 is the story of the century to date and will take some beating.
Their 2021 FA Cup triumph was mightily impressive too.
Yet the era when Wolves, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest were triumphing at home and abroad – the latter’s back-to-back European Cup triumphs, all overseen by the late, great Brian Clough, arguably as good an achievement as any English club has managed before or since – are now some time ago.
In an era largely dominated by the wealthy, the Europa League has given Villa and Forest licence to dream of Euro glory once more.
Only one side from the middle of the country could make it to Istanbul though as these two, rejuvenated under their respective bosses Unai Emery and Vitor Pereira, slugged it out at Villa Park.
At the start of the campaign, this SBOTOP scribbler went on record as saying Villa were a team to watch, led by the most successful manager in this competition with four previous titles.
There again, there was also Forest – a team on their fourth manager of the campaign but more than capable of delivering Europa League 2026 highlights.
They headed to their rivals with a one goal first leg advantage too, giving their followers reasons to dream of reaching a European final at the same time as they are making a very successful fist of preserving top flight status.
In the end, it wasn’t to be as Emery’s charges dispatched them in some style to reach their first European final for 44 years.
Even more so, they are now one game away from ending their three decade-long trophy drought: their last silverware was the 1996 League Cup Final when they oversaw Leeds United 3-0 at Wembley.
Although the visitors deserve enormous credit for their recent form (10 matches unbeaten in all competitions), and they have come a long way in four years since promotion back to the Premier League, this seemed to be one game too many and they rarely threatened without the stylish Morgan Gibbs-White.
The playmaker was only fit enough for the bench following a head injury which required extensive stitches in Monday’s league win at Chelsea.
On saying that, it took until seven minutes before the break until Villa could level on aggregate through Ollie Watkins.
Once that lead doubled just before the hour mark, Emi Buendia converting a penalty needlessly given away, the hosts were well on their way – in front of a certain royal fan, Prince William, no less.
From then on, it was left to captain John McGinn, much missed by Villa in the early part of the year through injury, to have the final word with two quick fire goals which put a rather one-sided slant on the contest.
A Europa League winner three times with Sevilla and once with Villarreal, Emery holds a special grip on this competition.
His Villains, who he has transformed since taking over in the autumn of 2022, now travel to Istanbul in Turkey later this month as clear favourites with the Europa League 2026 betting odds.
Their opponents Freiburg, the side from the Black Forest are no mugs, however, securing a fifth place finish in the Bundesliga last term.
They are currently seventh but this competition offers then an opportunity to reach Europe’s top tier after narrowly missing out on qualifying for the European Cup/Champions League for the first time in their 121-year history 12 months ago.
Against Braga of Portugal, they overcame a first-leg deficit with a stunning victory at the Europa-Park Stadion.
In truth, the home side always held the aces after Braga’s matchwinner last week, Mario Dorgeles, was shown a red card for a challenge on Niklas Beste just six minutes in.
Within minutes, defender Lukas Kübler punished the 10-men as he bunded home the opener in off the post to level the tie.
Johan Manzambi added a second shortly before half-time with a stunning curled finish.
Had Victor Gómez not seen his shot crash off the post in first half stoppage time, the outcome could have been different, but Kübler’s second of the evening, heading home from close range, wrapped up the tie and Pau Víctor’s reply was a mere consolation on the night as Freiburg progressed 4-3 on aggregate.
It means Freiburg have won their last 11 Europa League home matches, equalling Spanish side Sevilla’s competition record set between 2014-2016 (managed by Emery).
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
