The Europa League continues to deliver thrilling action as Matchday 6 unfolds, with several key clashes taking center stage on December 11, 2025. Among the highly anticipated matches are Basel versus Aston Villa and Celtic against Roma, both crucial for determining the trajectory of these teams in the competition.
Aston Villa's European Journey
Aston Villa travels to St. Jakob-Park to face Basel, seeking to continue their impressive form. Unai Emery's squad is aiming for their eighth consecutive win in all competitions and their third straight Europa League victory. Aston Villa is currently third in the Europa League standings and fresh off a last-gasp win over Premier League leaders Arsenal. However, Harvey Elliott will be absent from the squad as the club seeks to resolve his future.
Basel's Strong Home Record
Basel, currently holding the final qualifying spot in the league phase table, presents a formidable challenge, especially on home turf. They have won their last seven home UEFA Europa League matches, maintaining an unbeaten streak of 10 home games. Their last defeat at home was back in October 2015.
Historical Context
Aston Villa and Basel have a history, having met in the 2001 UEFA Intertoto Cup final. Aston Villa won the second leg 4-1 after a 1-1 draw in Switzerland.
Celtic's Quest for Victory
Celtic is set to face Roma at Celtic Park in a match that could significantly impact their Europa League campaign. A victory would allow Celtic to surpass Roma in the standings. New Celtic head coach Wilfried Nancy is looking for his first win since taking charge. Celtic's hopes have been revived after wins over Midtjylland and Feyenoord. James Forrest will miss the match due to injury.
Roma's Perspective
Roma, under Gian Piero Gasperini, is aiming to bounce back after two consecutive defeats in Serie A. Their last victory was a 2-1 Europa League win against Midtjylland in November. Evan Ferguson is set to lead Roma's attack, supported by Matias Soule and Stephan El Shaarawy. Paulo Dybala will start on the bench.
Other Europa League Action
In other Europa League matches, Young Boys and Lille played to a 0-0 draw, while Dinamo Zagreb lost 3-0 to Real Betis. Elsewhere, FC Midtjylland secured a 1-0 victory against Genk, and FC Utrecht and Nottingham Forest played out a 0-0 draw. Ferencvaros and Rangers drew 1-1, Ludogorets and PAOK Salonika also ended their match with a 1-1 scoreline, Nice lost 1-0 to Braga, and Sturm Graz and Crvena Zvezda finished goalless. Stuttgart defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 2-0.
Looking Ahead
Celtic has two more Europa League matches to play in late January 2026, against Bologna and Utrecht. They realistically need four points from these three matches to advance to the play-offs. The Europa League continues to deliver excitement and drama as teams battle for qualification and progression in the tournament.
