Friday’s briefing: Euro hopefuls await play-off fate as focus shifts to weekend

Aston Villa produced a stunning fightback to beat RB Salzburg 3-2 and secure second place in the final Europa League standings, but saw Ollie Watkins forced off through injury.

Nottingham Forest ended their league phase with a 4-0 win over Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros at the City Ground.

Celtic defeated Dutch side Utrecht 4-2 to make sure of their spot in the play-offs, while already-eliminated Rangers slumped to a 3-1 loss away to Porto.

Jimoh-Aloba late show caps Villa comeback

Nineteen-year-old substitute Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba scored a late winner as Aston Villa came from two goals down to beat RB Salzburg 3-2 and finish in the Europa League top two amid further injury problems for boss Unai Emery.

Villa, already assured of a place in the last 16, picked up their seventh win from eight games in the group phase the hard way – and the success was marred by the loss of England forward Ollie Watkins to a first-half injury.

Salzburg had no other option but to go in search of the three points and got their reward for a fantastic first-half display when Karim Konate took advantage of Tyrone Mings’ error.

Watkins was forced off with what looked to be a hamstring injury and the Austrian league leaders inflicted further damage when Moussa Yeo converted from close range shortly after half-time.

Morgan Rogers stepped off the bench to halve the deficit and Mings atoned for his earlier error when he nodded the hosts level before Jimoh-Aloba completed the comeback by netting his first senior goal with three minutes left.

Villa boss Emery is hopeful Watkins has not suffered a serious injury. “He felt something, but not a lot. We will test him,” Emery said.

“Hopefully, we are thinking that is not a lot. I don’t know if he will be available for Sunday (against Brentford).

Igor Jesus at the double for Forest

Nottingham Forest will play Panathinaikos or Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-off round after ending their league phase with a 4-0 win over Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros.

Igor Jesus’ brace after Bence Otvos’ early own goal and James McAtee’s late penalty made it an easy evening for Forest at the City Ground.

Defeat at Braga last week ensured Sean Dyche’s side had next to no chance of securing automatic qualification to the knockout round, but victory here ensured they get home advantage in the second leg of next month’s play-off tie.

Forest’s opponents will be decided on Friday, as they prepare for two more European fixtures to fit into an already packed schedule.

Dyche said: “We will take whatever comes. It’s about working hard to get to this far and then going again. It’s going to be the challenge.”

Fast start helps Celtic see off Utrecht

Celtic set up a Europa League play-off clash with either Ferencvaros or Stuttgart after beating Dutch side Utrecht 4-2.

Benjamin Nygren’s early strike, an own goal from Nick Viergever and an Arne Engels penalty looked to have the home side coasting – only for Utrecht to narrow the deficit thanks to efforts from Dani de Wit and Adrian Blake.

A fourth goal, though, from Auston Trusty secured Celtic’s safe passage through to Friday’s draw, where they will be paired with either Ferencvaros of Hungary or German side Stuttgart.

Celtic knew beforehand they would likely need a victory to progress against a Utrecht side already eliminated from the competition and duly got the job done – albeit with a mid-game wobble.

Old habits return for Rangers

Rangers, though, saw their forgettable European campaign end in a 3-1 defeat by Porto following a first-half collapse at the Estadio do Dragao.

Attacker Djeidi Gassama headed the visitors in front after just six minutes but they soon fell apart with some calamitous defending.

Goals from teenager Rodrigo Mora, Francisco Moura and an Emmanuel Fernandez own goal before the break left Danny Rohl’s side reeling, as their promising recent run ended with a first defeat in nine games.

What’s on today?

Friday night’s live action from the Sky Bet Championship sees Bristol City host Derby, with both sides aiming to get themselves up into the play-off places.

Several Premier League bosses are set to address the media ahead of the weekend’s action.

Arne Slot, Eddie Howe, and Mikel Arteta are up in the morning, while Pep Guardiola, Michael Carrick, Liam Rosenior, Thomas Frank and Oliver Glasner all feature on a busy afternoon schedule.