Aston Villa and Crystal Palace reach European finals

Fans of Aston Villa and Crystal Palace were celebrating on Thursday evening after both teams reached the final of their respective European competitions. 

Aston Villa progressed to the final of the Europa League following a 4-0 victory over fellow Premier League side Nottingham Forest, overturning a one-goal deficit from the first leg last week.

The result means Villa will meet German side Freiburg in the final on 20 May in Istanbul.

In the Conference League, Crystal Palace beat Ukrainian outfit Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 on the night at Selhurst Park to secure a 5-2 aggregate win and set up a first European final appearance against Spanish side Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on 27 May.

It means an English club has reached the final of each of the three modern-day European competitions in the same season for the first time, following Arsenal's progression to the Champions League final earlier this week.

A jubilant Prince William

Prince William, an avid Aston Villa supporter, was among the fans celebrating in the stands at Villa Park, after his team reached a first European final since 1982 - which they won.

Goals from Ollie Watkins, Emi Buendia and two from John McGinn against their Midland rivals ensured Villa remain hopeful of lifting their first major trophy in three decades.

Meanwhile, Villa head coach Unai Emery has reached his sixth European final - all in the Europa League between 2014 to 2026. Only Italy's Giovanni Trapattoni has managed in more major European finals (seven).

After the game, striker Watkins hailed Emery, saying the Spanish manager's track record "speaks for itself".

"There is no better manager to get us prepared for this game and obviously take us into the final as well," Watkins said.

"We are in a great position, but we need to go there and win now."

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A Pedrinho own goal and Ismaila Sarr strike came either side of an Eguinaldo goal as Palace remain on course to secure what would be only the second major trophy in the club's history after lifting the FA Cup last season.

Should Oliver Glasner's team triumph in just under three weeks' time, they would become the third English club after West Ham United and Chelsea to lift the Conference League since its inception in 2021.

Arsenal hoping to make history

On Tuesday, Arsenal reached the final of the Champions League for the first time in 20 years after a 2-1 aggregate victory over Spanish side Atletico Madrid.

Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game at the Emirates Stadium to ensure progress to the final in Budapest on 30 May, where they will face competition holders Paris Saint-Germain, who overcame German champions Bayern Munich in their semi-final.

The Gunners will be hoping to triumph in Europe's elite club competition for the very first time, although Arsenal's women's team have lifted the Women's Champions League - previously called the UEFA Women's Cup - on two occasions, with the most recent coming in 2025.

(c) Sky News 2026: Aston Villa and Crystal Palace reach European finals