Aston Villa finally found relief from their poor start to the season with a 1-0 victory over Bologna to launch their Europa League campaign on Thursday, while Rangers boss Russell Martin came under growing pressure after a damaging home defeat to Genk.
Despite going winless in their first five Premier League fixtures, Villa were tipped among the Europa League favourites, thanks to their strong European run last season and manager Unai Emery’s pedigree as a four-time winner of the competition.
Villa captain John McGinn struck in the 13th minute, drilling a low shot into the corner to secure all three points against the Coppa Italia holders.
However, doubts around the squad’s form persist. Ollie Watkins, still without a goal this season, missed a penalty after coming off the bench, his weak effort easily saved by goalkeeper Łukasz Skorupski. Bologna came close to equalising when Santiago Castro’s header rattled the crossbar, but Villa held firm for their first win of the campaign.
“Important to get a win at home after not our strongest start to the season,” said McGinn. “We’ve had a lot of praise the past couple of seasons and we’re rightly being criticised at the minute.”
Rangers woes deepen
At Ibrox, Rangers endured another nightmare evening as chants for manager Russell Martin’s dismissal rang out following a 1-0 defeat to Genk.
Midfielder Mohamed Diomande’s red card just before halftime left the home side vulnerable, and although former Celtic striker Oh Hyeon-Gyu saw his penalty saved in stoppage time, the South Korean returned after the break to score the decisive goal.
Martin, appointed in June, has now overseen an eight-game winless streak across domestic and European competitions, putting his position in serious jeopardy.
Other Europa League results
- Lille 2–1 Brann: Olivier Giroud struck a late winner.
- Utrecht 0–1 Lyon: American midfielder Tanner Tessmann netted the only goal.
- Stuttgart 2–1 Celta Vigo.
- RB Salzburg 0–1 Porto.
About the author
Onscreen kissing is weird, unpleasant – Saga Adeoluwa
Nollywood actor and reality TV star Saga Adeoluwa says onscreen kissing is weird and unpleasant and that many viewers are wrong to think actors enjoy it. He says most performers only do such scenes because they are required to tell the story properly, not because they find them exciting. Saga explains that kissing on set is uncomfortable because there is no real intimacy and the exchange of saliva makes it awkward. He adds that the presence of cameras, crew and other actors watching also makes the experience far from romantic. Despite appearing in several romantic movies, Saga says he cannot remember a single onscreen kiss he truly enjoyed. For him, intimate scenes are some of the most challenging parts of acting in love stories. He notes that before shooting any kissing scene, he tries to have a clear discussion with […]
Onscreen kissing is weird, unpleasant – Actor Saga Adeoluwa
Nollywood actor and reality TV star Saga Adeoluwa says actors do not enjoy onscreen kissing and that the experience is often weird and unpleasant. He said many viewers wrongly assume performers like such scenes, but most are only doing them to tell the story well. Saga explained that kissing another actor on set is uncomfortable, mainly because of the exchange of saliva and the lack of real intimacy behind the act. He said it feels strange to have someone invade your mouth while cameras and crew members are watching. He revealed that despite appearing in several romantic films, he has never had a truly pleasant onscreen kiss. According to him, kissing scenes are one of the most challenging parts of acting in love stories. Saga added that before any kissing scene, he usually talks with his co star to set […]
PSG edge Bayern in nine goal Champions League semi final classic
Paris Saint Germain took a narrow lead in their Champions League semi final after beating Bayern Munich 5 4 in a wild first leg at the Parc des Princes. The nine goal thriller was the highest scoring semi final in the history of the competition. Bayern struck first when Harry Kane converted a penalty in the 17th minute. PSG hit back through a brilliant Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike and a Joao Neves header to lead 2 1, before Michael Olise levelled again for the German side. In first half stoppage time, Ousmane Dembele restored PSG’s advantage from the penalty spot after a handball decision against Alphonso Davies that Bayern strongly protested. That made it 3 2 at the break in a breathless opening 45 minutes. PSG then appeared to take full control early in the second half. Kvaratskhelia and Dembele each […]
I can score against any team, says Osimhen
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen says he believes he can score against any team in the world and that finding the net is a job he does very well. He spoke after his decisive performance for Galatasaray in the heated Istanbul derby against Fenerbahce. Osimhen recently returned from a fractured arm but still managed to score the opening goal in Galatasaray’s 3 0 win over their rivals. He finished calmly from a Mario Lemina pass, underlining his reputation as one of Europe’s most dangerous forwards. The 2023 CAF Player of the Year said his confidence comes from hard work and belief in his own ability. He stressed that as a striker he is expected to deliver in big games and that he embraces that responsibility. Osimhen added that while he is proud of his goals, the most important thing is […]
World Cup gets cash boost as FIFA plans tough red card rules
FIFA has approved a major increase in World Cup cash distributions while also backing tougher red card rules ahead of this year’s tournament. The decisions were taken at a meeting of the FIFA Council in Vancouver, held before the organisation’s annual congress. Under the new plan, total World Cup payments to participating teams will rise to nearly 900 million dollars, covering prize money, preparation funds and club compensation. The four year World Cup cycle is projected to generate around 13 billion dollars for FIFA, allowing it to boost support to national associations. Prize money for the 2026 World Cup had already been set at about 655 million dollars, around 50 percent higher than at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. The champions are due to earn 50 million dollars, with 33 million dollars for the runners up and 9 million dollars […]
Xenophobia: NANS tells FG to protect Nigerian students in South Africa
The National Association of Nigerian Students has called on the Federal Government to urgently protect Nigerian students studying in South Africa amid renewed fears of xenophobic attacks. The students’ body said reports from South Africa show growing hostility towards foreigners, including Nigerians, and warned that the situation could escalate if not addressed quickly. NANS leaders urged the government to engage directly with South African authorities through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria. They said diplomatic pressure and clear agreements on the safety of Nigerians are necessary to prevent further attacks and harassment. The association also asked the Federal Government to issue a strong public statement condemning xenophobic violence and reassuring Nigerian students and their families that their safety is a priority. It noted that many students and parents are living in fear as disturbing videos […]
Related
More criticism trails Makinde over Wetie comment
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is facing growing criticism over his recent reference to Operation Wetie, a violent episode in the political history of the old Western Region.The governor reportedly used the expression during a political gathering in Ibadan at the weekend, a remark that many now see as irresponsible and dangerous. Opposition figures, civil society groups and concerned citizens have condemned the statement, warning that such language could encourage political thuggery and undermine peace in the state.They argue that referencing a period associated with arson, killings and severe unrest sends the wrong signal ahead of the 2027 election cycle. Some critics insist that leaders must promote calm and constructive engagement instead of inflammatory rhetoric.They stress that Oyo State has enjoyed relative stability in recent years and should not return to a climate of fear or politically motivated attacks. Political […]
Iranian sailors leave Sri Lanka after attack
More than 200 Iranian sailors who had been stranded in Sri Lanka following a naval incident have now returned home after spending over a month in the country. According to Deputy Defence Minister Aruna Jayasekara, a total of 238 sailors were repatriated. This included 32 crew members rescued from the Iris Dena and 206 from the Irins Bushehr. The group departed on Tuesday night after being flown out of Sri Lanka. The incident began on 4 March, when the Iris Dena sank approximately 40 kilometres off Sri Lanka’s southern coast after being struck by a torpedo reportedly launched from a US submarine. The attack resulted in the deaths of 104 sailors. The following day, Sri Lankan authorities took control of the Irins Bushehr after it requested permission to dock due to engine failure. The vessel was allowed into port on […]
China says it ‘welcomes’ Middle East ceasefire agreement
China has said it “welcomes” the ceasefire agreement reached in the Middle East between the parties to the Iran conflict. “China welcomes relevant parties announcing the reaching of a ceasefire agreement,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters at a regular briefing in Beijing. She expressed hope that all sides would “earnestly implement” the truce, which includes a two‑week halt to strikes and a controlled reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping. China reiterated its long‑standing position that hostilities in the region must stop immediately to prevent further escalation and spillover. Beijing’s foreign ministry said the country supports diplomatic efforts and dialogue to resolve disputes, and backs a greater role for the United Nations and Gulf states in promoting regional security. Foreign Minister Wang Yi previously outlined a framework calling for an immediate ceasefire, protection of civilians and […]
Lilian Afegbai apologises to AMVCA for outburst over snub
Nollywood actress Lilian Afegbai has apologised to the organisers of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards for her earlier outburst over being left out of this year’s nominations. She had previously gone viral for angrily telling them to eat their award after her name was missing from the list. In a new post on her X page, Afegbai admitted that her apology was overdue and that her earlier reaction was disrespectful. She said her words were driven by hurt and disappointment and did not reflect the respect she has for the AMVCA platform and those who work behind the scenes. The actress, who played the character Idia in Kemi Adetiba’s Netflix series To Kill a Monkey, had initially expressed shock at not being nominated for Best Supporting Actress. She argued that her role was one of the most talked about […]
Court orders final forfeiture of $13m linked to Oceangate Engineering
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the final forfeiture of 13 million dollars linked to Oceangate Engineering Oil and Gas Ltd, a company associated with businesswoman Aisha Achimugu. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the money to be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government. In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that neither Oceangate Engineering nor Achimugu was able to prove that the 13 million dollars was legitimately earned. He said there was no credible evidence before the court to support their claim that the funds came from gifts and earnings from oil and gas contracts. The judge rejected arguments by Oceangate’s lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, who had insisted that the money was lawfully acquired. Ozurumba had argued that the funds were derived from personal gifts to Achimugu and proceeds of genuine […]
Bandits raid Kwara church, abduct worshippers during service
Armed bandits have attacked a church in Kwara State, abducting several worshippers during a service. The incident occurred at Christ Apostolic Church, Oke Isegun, in Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of the state. The attackers reportedly arrived at the church in the evening and opened fire from outside before storming the building. Worshippers fled in different directions as gunshots rang out, while some were seized and taken into the bush by the gunmen. Police authorities in Kwara confirmed the attack and said two people were killed, while a vigilante member sustained gunshot injuries. The victims who died were identified as worshippers who were shot during the raid, and their bodies were later recovered in and around the church premises. The spokesperson for the Kwara State Police Command said operatives, working with local vigilantes, responded quickly after receiving distress calls about […]