A Tale of Two Trajectories in the Second City
It has been a week of contrasting fortunes and frantic activity across Birmingham. While one half of the city continues its pursuit of European silverware, the other is preparing to launch a pivotal campaign in the third tier, desperate to claw its way back up the English football pyramid.
Villa’s Late Show Stuns Salzburg
At Villa Park, the European dream remains vividly alive, though not without a significant scare. Unai Emery’s side secured their place in the Europa League Round of 16 with a dramatic 3-2 victory over RB Salzburg, eliminating the Austrian outfit in the process. It was a night that showcased both the fragility and the resilience of a team with its sights set firmly on lifting the trophy.
The evening began with anxiety rather than celebration. Salzburg, needing a miracle to reach the play-offs, arrived with nothing to lose and took the game to their hosts. Within 30 seconds, Alexander Schlager was forced into a reflex save from a Harvey Elliott deflection, but the visitors quickly settled. Thomas Letsch’s men, buoyed by the return of Karim Konaté—starting his first match since suffering a cruciate ligament injury in November 2024—looked dangerous on the break.
Villa’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper, Emiliano Martínez, was called into action after 20 minutes to deny Soumaila Diabaté and a follow-up from Konaté, but the reprieve was temporary. The breakthrough came via a moment of calamity for Tyrone Mings. The experienced centre-back was robbed of possession in his own box by Edmund Baidoo, allowing Konaté to slot home. Watching from the stands, the Prince of Wales witnessed his team fall further behind shortly after the interval when Moussa Yeo finished a slick move involving Karim Alajbegovic. At 2-0 down, Villa Park was stunned into silence.
However, the introduction of Morgan Rogers proved to be the turning point. The substitute reduced the deficit in the 64th minute with a finish of pure individual class, instantly waking the slumbering home crowd. Suddenly, Villa looked a team transformed. Mings, desperate to atone for his earlier error, rose highest to head home a corner with 15 minutes remaining, leveling the score. The comeback was completed in the dying moments when substitute Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba fired in his first goal for the club, sealing a victory that keeps Emery’s hunt for Champions League qualification—via either the Premier League or Europa League glory—firmly on track.
A Fresh Era Dawns at St Andrew’s
While Villa chase continental glory, Birmingham City are bracing for the gritty reality of League One football. Chris Davies’ side welcome Reading to a revamped St Andrew’s Knighthead Park this Saturday evening, marking the beginning of their first third-tier campaign in thirty years.
Expectations are understandably high. Following an aggressive summer recruitment drive, Blues begin the season as overwhelming favourites for promotion. Davies has had some difficult decisions to make regarding his starting XI, none more so than between the sticks. It appears Bailey Peacock-Farrell has won the battle for the number one shirt, edging out Ryan Allsop. The Northern Ireland international has been the preferred choice over the last fortnight, playing the full 90 minutes in friendly victories over Walsall and West Bromwich Albion.
In front of the goalkeeper, the back four looks settled with Ethan Laird, Dion Sanderson, Krystian Bielik, and Alex Cochrane poised to start. There was a brief scare regarding the new club captain, Bielik, who suffered a shoulder injury against the Baggies, but he has since reassured supporters that the issue is not serious. His availability likely means new signing Christoph Klarer will have to settle for a place on the bench, despite the Austrian impressing with a goal and an assist in pre-season.
Midfield Dilemmas and Attack
Further up the pitch, the team sheet is not quite as finalised. Paik Seung-ho is a guaranteed fixture in midfield, but his partner remains a subject of speculation. Jordan James was the expected choice, yet reports of a potential move to Rennes have thrown his participation into doubt. Should the Welshman miss out, Marc Leonard is on standby to step in alongside Paik after catching the eye with a strong cameo against West Brom.
In the attacking third, Koji Miyoshi has seemingly locked down the right flank, while Willum Willumsson is set to operate in the number 10 role behind the prolific Alfie May. The final question mark hangs over the left wing. Davies faces a late decision on whether to deploy the flair of Siriki Dembele or the industry of Emil Hansson, a choice that could define the tempo of what promises to be an emotional opening night at St Andrew’s.
