Aston Villa gain early Europa Conference League indication as Unai Emery gears up for play-off

Aston Villa are now looking likely to play Hibernian in the UEFA Europa Conference League play-off round after the Scottish Premiership side beat FC Luzern on Thursday night.

Winning by three goals to one at Easter Road, Hibs have established a two-goal lead heading into the qualification round second leg, set to be played at Swissporarena on August 17.

John McGinn is now one step closer to having a reunion with his former side as Villa will take on the winner of Hibs vs Luzern in a two-legged encounter on August 24 and August 31.

The Villans skipper, who himself is, of course, a Scottish international, played for the Hibees between 2015 and 2018, before moving to Villa Park in a £2.5 million deal.

Ticket details have been announced already for the home leg of the UECL play-off and information will be released in due course for the away trip, now looking set to be in Edinburgh.

It’d be a fairly short journey to kick things off in Europe, giving Unai Emery’s side the opportunity to ease into things. If Villa advance, they will be in the group stage draw on September 1.