Overview
- The Europa League league‑phase fixture kicks off Thursday at 8pm UK time and will air on TNT Sports 2 with streaming on discovery+.
- West Midlands Police plan to deploy more than 700 officers, with no visiting supporters allowed and a nearby pro‑Palestine demonstration expected.
- Villa enter at 2–1 in the competition after defeats to Go Ahead Eagles and Liverpool, with Unai Emery stressing the need to focus on each match.
- Tyrone Mings is ruled out for the rest of the year, Youri Tielemans is unlikely to return before the November international break, Emi Buendía remains a doubt, and Ross Barkley is not registered for Europe.
- Maccabi have one point from three group games and a poor recent European record, and this is the first meeting between the clubs.