Europa League and Conference League roundup 11 december

European football's second and third tiers served up a compelling evening of continental action on Thursday as three matches across the Europa League and Conference League delivered decisive victories and significant implications for qualification. From Basel's St Jakob-Park to Dublin's Tallaght Stadium, the night highlighted both the quality of England's Premier League representatives and the resurgent form of established European clubs chasing automatic progression.

Basel 1-2 Aston Villa: Tielemans Super-Sub Strikes Gold

Aston Villa secured a crucial Europa League victory at St Jakob-Park, as Belgian midfielder Youri Tielemans delivered a decisive super-sub performance to keep the Villans' automatic qualification hopes alive. Coming off the bench at half-time, Tielemans needed just eight minutes to make his impact, stroking home a composed finish that ultimately proved the difference in a 2-1 win over Basel.

Unai Emery's side made a controlled start to proceedings and moved into an early lead when Evann Guessand capitalised on a piece of fortune in the 12th minute. After Xherdan Shaqiri's loose clearance, Guessand had the presence of mind to turn sharply and fire a low effort past goalkeeper Marwin Hitz to give Villa the advantage. However, Basel showed resilience and grew into the contest as the first half progressed. The hosts thought they had levelled when Leo Leroy rifled a volley into the bottom corner midway through the half, but VAR ruled the effort out for offside in the build-up. The reprieve proved temporary. Minutes later, Flavius Daniliuc met Shaqiri's inviting free-kick with a clever flicked finish to level the scores at 1-1.

Emery's decision to introduce Tielemans at the interval would prove transformative. The Belgian midfielder immediately changed the game's tempo and quality, and just eight minutes into the second half, restored Villa's lead with a clinical finish that showcased his technical quality. Collecting a pass from Emiliano Buendia at the edge of the penalty area, Tielemans took a touch and swept a beautiful side-footed strike into the bottom right corner to give Villa the lead they would not relinquish.

The introduction of Tielemans fundamentally altered the midfield balance. His composed passing, positional intelligence, and ability to control the tempo allowed Villa to dictate proceedings in a manner they had struggled to achieve in the opening 45 minutes. Basel continued to press for an equaliser, particularly in the closing stages, with Ibrahim Salah's stoppage-time header cannoning off Morgan Rogers and deflecting just wide of the target. However, Villa's defensive discipline held firm.

The victory represents Villa's fifth win of the competition and extends their impressive winning run to eight consecutive matches across all competitions. More significantly, it moves them to third in the Europa League standings, positioning them as genuine contenders for a coveted top-eight finish that would secure automatic progression to the knockout rounds. With two matches remaining—away to Fenerbahce and at home to Salzburg—Villa need just one more victory to practically guarantee their place in the round of 16.

Utrecht 1-2 Nottingham Forest: Jesus Delivers Historic Victory

Nottingham Forest made history at Stadion Galgenwaard, securing their first European away victory in 30 years as Igor Jesus struck a crucial late goal to edge out Utrecht 2-1. The Brazilian substitute, who has become Sean Dyche's go-to option for decisive moments, netted in the 88th minute to secure all three points and maintain Forest's push for automatic qualification from the Europa League's league phase.

Forest began the encounter with notable intent, making nine changes to the lineup that suffered a heavy defeat to Everton at the weekend. Despite the wholesale alterations, Dyche's side demonstrated early control and almost immediately threatened the Utrecht goal. Callum Hudson-Odoi forced two saves from goalkeeper Vasilios Barkas in the opening seven minutes, while Oleksandr Zinchenko dragged a golden chance wide from close range shortly after, following a neat flick from Dan Ndoye inside the penalty area.

The opening 30 minutes belonged entirely to Forest, who carved out multiple opportunities against a Utrecht side yet to register a victory in this season's competition. The hosts' defensive organisation proved frustratingly resolute, however, despite finding themselves under sustained pressure. Morato saw an effort cleared off the line, while Douglas Luiz's shot was parried away as Forest's attacking intent remained unabated. Utrecht offered little in the way of genuine attacking threat during this spell.

The pattern of play shifted noticeably after the interval. Forest's early second-half pressing continued to trouble Utrecht, and their patience was rewarded when Arnaud Kalimuendo converted a golden opportunity just seven minutes after the restart. The French striker reacted sharply to pounce on a loose ball in the penalty area following a fortuitous rebound, guiding a composed finish into the bottom-right corner to give Forest the lead.

Utrecht's continued struggles in front of goal appeared destined to cost them dearly as Forest created additional chances to extend their advantage. Kalimuendo threatened a second goal shortly after his opener, hitting the side netting with a well-struck effort. However, Forest's failure to capitalise on their dominance provided Utrecht with an unlikely lifeline. In the 73rd minute, substitute Mike van der Hoorn—the former Swansea defender—stole in at the far post to guide a tight-angled header past the Forest goalkeeper following Souffian El Karouani's free-kick delivery, hauling Utrecht back into the contest.

Forest's concentration appeared to slip momentarily following Utrecht's leveller, with Jadon Sancho's uncharacteristic loss of possession allowing the hosts a glimpse of opportunity. However, Sean Dyche's tactical adjustments and substitutions—particularly the introduction of Igor Jesus—would ultimately prove decisive. As the match entered its closing stages, Forest reasserted their authority through controlled possession and intelligent defensive positioning. The breakthrough came in the 88th minute when Jesus collected the rebound after Dan Ndoye's header had cannoned off Barkas' sprawling save, firing past the Utrecht goalkeeper to secure one of Forest's most significant results of the season.

The victory marks a watershed moment for Nottingham Forest's European campaign under Dyche's stewardship. Beyond securing all three points in a contest that might easily have ended in stalemate, the win represents their first away triumph in any European competition since October 1995—a 30-year drought that had weighed on the club's continental ambitions. More immediately, the three points move Forest to 11 points from six matches, positioning them firmly within the top eight and requiring just one additional point from their remaining fixtures to guarantee at minimum a playoff spot. Forest remain unbeaten in four matches since Dyche's appointment, demonstrating the character and tactical discipline that has defined their resurgence.

Shelbourne 0-3 Crystal Palace: Eagles Soar in Dublin

Crystal Palace delivered a masterclass in European football at Tallaght Stadium, dismantling Shelbourne with a dominant display that positions Oliver Glasner's side within touching distance of automatic qualification to the Conference League last 16. Three first-half goals from Christantus Uche, Eddie Nketiah, and Yeremy Pino secured all three points in Dublin, with the only surprise being Palace's inability to extend their advantage further in a second period where the contest was effectively decided within the opening 45 minutes.

Palace, fresh from their triumphant FA Cup-winning campaign that earned them European football for the first time, began with considerable intensity and purpose. From the opening exchanges, the gulf in quality and tactical organisation between the two sides became immediately apparent. Shelbourne set up in a compact 5-2-3 formation designed to frustrate Palace's attacking ambitions. The Irish side's defensive approach, however, proved ineffective against Palace's sharp movement and intelligent positioning.

Palace established control within the opening moments and broke the deadlock in the 11th minute through substitute Christantus Uche, making his first European start in place of the injured Jean-Philippe Mateta. The occasion appeared to suit the young Nigerian forward perfectly, as he demonstrated the composure and clinical finishing that typifies Academy products who have developed within a strong cultural environment. Daichi Kamada instinctively slipped Nketiah through in a well-constructed move, with the England international pulling the ball back across the penalty area for Uche to finish calmly into the bottom-right corner.

The early breakthrough appeared to unsettle Shelbourne, who found themselves unable to establish any meaningful attacking rhythm despite their defensive structure. Palace's press was suffocating, with inverted wing-backs Borna Sosa and Justin Devenny engaging Shelbourne's players high up the pitch and forcing turnovers in dangerous areas. The hosts' inability to transition effectively from defence to attack meant Glasner's side retained possession comfortably throughout the opening half.

Palace's dominance was rewarded with a second goal in the 25th minute when Uche's shot from close range struck the left post and bounced across the goal line. Eddie Nketiah, displaying the predatory instincts that have characterised his recent performances, reacted quickest to tap home from point-blank range and extend Palace's advantage to 2-0. The English striker, returning to action following his first Premier League start against Fulham just three days earlier, demonstrated why Glasner continues to trust him with key responsibility despite competing for minutes in a crowded attacking department.

Shelbourne's defensive structure, which had appeared capable of offering some resistance, was comprehensively dismantled by Palace's intelligent attacking play. Marc Guehi saw an effort go wide from close range shortly after Nketiah's goal, while Chris Richards headed against the crossbar as Palace moved seamlessly through the gears.

The afternoon's result was effectively settled in the 37th minute when Yeremy Pino secured Palace's third with a stunning individual effort. The Spanish winger collected possession and embarked on a purposeful run down the right flank, dribbling past two Shelbourne defenders before cutting inside and firing a well-struck effort into the bottom-left corner. The goal showcased precisely the technical quality and confidence that Palace possess in their attacking ranks—qualities that have driven their improbable rise from last season's promotion-chasing outfit to legitimate European competitors.

By the time the teams departed for the interval, the contest had effectively been decided. Glasner, recognising the magnitude of Palace's first-half control and satisfied with the platform established, utilised the 45-minute break to make a triple substitution, preserving the fitness of his key personnel ahead of what promises to be a hectic fixture schedule during the closing weeks of the calendar year.

Palace's second-half performance, while containing flashes of quality, lacked the intensity and rigour of their opening 45 minutes. The game had been decided long before the interval, and such circumstances inevitably led to a more measured approach as Glasner's side managed the contest with the confidence of sides secure in their superiority. Romain Esse came closest to adding a fourth when his low shot struck both posts in quick succession before being cleared to safety, an act of providence that prevented Palace from scoring a fourth.

Shelbourne, to their credit, offered more resistance in the second period and created a handful of opportunities that suggested they possessed some attacking capability. The Irish side's inability to add to their solitary point from five matches remains a source of considerable concern, however, with their continued struggles in front of goal pointing toward elimination from the competition regardless of their final match result.

Crystal Palace's victory lifts them to ninth in the Conference League standings, positioning them just one point adrift of automatic qualification to the last 16. With a single remaining fixture against Finnish side KuPS at Selhurst Park next Thursday, Glasner's side require merely a point to guarantee their place in the knockout rounds—a hugely significant milestone for a club competing in European competition for the first time in their history. The performance against Shelbourne, meanwhile, demonstrated that Palace possess the quality and mentality required not merely to participate in European football, but potentially to become serious competitors in the continent's third-tier competition.

Thursday's Standings Impact

The results on Thursday delivered significant implications for the Europa League and Conference League standings. Aston Villa's victory moves them to third with 15 points and positions them just two points behind the current leaders, though with the same number of matches played. Nottingham Forest's crucial win sees them climb to 11 points, placing them firmly within automatic qualification contention ahead of their final fixtures. Crystal Palace's emphatic three points sees them reach nine points in the Conference League, now requiring just one more point to secure a place in the last 16 and avoid the playoff round.

The evening demonstrated the quality of English football at the continental level. Both Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest showed the character and tactical discipline required to grind out results in testing away fixtures, while Crystal Palace's dominant display against Shelbourne highlighted the gulf that exists between Premier League-standard opposition and smaller European sides. As the Europa League and Conference League head toward their climactic final matchdays, England's representatives have positioned themselves favourably to progress to the knockout stages.