• Union of European Clubs wants to help non-elite teams

• Its plan relates to revenue from Uefa club competitions

Competitive balance across Europe’s leagues would be transformed with the adoption of a new model for distributing revenue from the Champions League and other Uefa club competitions, according to a proposal by the Union of European Clubs (UEC).

Clubs competing in the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League benefit this season from a bumper €3.317bn (£2.87bn) prize pot, culled from annual €4.4bn revenue primarily generated by media rights sales. Only €308m of the latter figure is divided among clubs who did not reach those competitions, in the form of solidarity payments.

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© Photograph: Matthias Schräder/AP

© Photograph: Matthias Schräder/AP

© Photograph: Matthias Schräder/AP

For 67 minutes, Nottingham Forest were at risk of matching an unwanted record. At that point Fenerbahce were 2-0 up and full of belief that they could achieve the miracle their head coach, Domenico Tedesco, had been manifesting since their 3-0 first-leg defeat in Istanbul.

Only one team in the history of European club competitions have lost the first leg of a tie by a three-goal margin at home and advanced in the second. Up in the directors’ box, Evangelos Marinakis, more than an interested party on that occasion, presumably had flashbacks of Olympiakos suffering a 4-1 home defeat by Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Conference League two years ago, only to triumph 6-1 in Serbia in the second leg.

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© Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

© Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

© Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA

Martin O’Neill delivered a little piece of history in what will surely be his final European fixture as a manager. He created such wonderful memories for Celtic’s support in this domain during his first tenure that departing with a smile felt appropriate. In Stuttgart, Celtic won their first competitive game in Germany. It took them 17 attempts. “The evening is nothing to do with me,” said O’Neill with needless self-deprecation.

Luke McCowan’s goal inside 30 seconds was irrelevant in the broader context of this tie. Stuttgart’s 4-1 canter in Glasgow a week earlier ensured that. Still, a game that had the whiff of irrelevance for Celtic delivered unexpected cheer. The statistics will show Stuttgart spent much of the evening camped in Celtic’s half – the hosts had 24 attempts at goal – but the Scottish champions played with a diligence and discipline that is worthy of huge credit. Sebastian Tounekti should even have delivered a second Celtic goal in the closing minutes. By then, Stuttgart were going through the motions.

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© Photograph: James Marsh/Shutterstock

© Photograph: James Marsh/Shutterstock

© Photograph: James Marsh/Shutterstock

Two goals from Kerem Akturkoglu put Forest under pressure, but Callum Hudson-Odoi’s goal calmed things and they saw out a 4-2 aggregate win

On the telly, they’ve just been discussing James McAtee, and I’m looking forward to seeing how he does tonight. City are now in that spot United were under Alex Ferguson, where clubs buy their players because they know the standard can be too high for good ones to make it and respect the managers who keep them around. He’s got a lovely touch and decent vision, but does he have the ability to impose that? We don’t yet know.

Forest actually did pretty well to keep as many players as they did after last season – and getting £52m+£3m for Anthony Elanga was a remarkable piece of business. I’m not sure Anderson will still be around after the summer, whereas Gibbs-White has a contract – but there surely comes a point at which players don’t trust Marinakis with their careers and just want to up sticks from the upheaval.

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© Photograph: Joe Toth/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Joe Toth/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Joe Toth/Shutterstock

Trotz eines Blitzgegentores hat der VfB Stuttgart das Achtelfinale der Europa League erreicht. Dort trifft man auf ein Team aus Portugal.

• Auston Trusty sent off against Hibernian

• O’Neill: ‘In time we won’t need a referee’

Celtic’s manager, Martin O’Neill, has delivered a withering assessment of VAR in Scottish football after what he called the “ridiculous” dismissal of Auston Trusty during Sunday’s loss by Hibernian.

Trusty’s red card and a failed Celtic appeal mean the centre-back will miss three crucial Scottish Premiership games, starting with Sunday’s Old Firm visit to Ibrox. O’Neill claimed VAR actions must be “debilitating” for on-field officials.

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© Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA

© Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA

© Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA

Gute Ausgangslage für den VfB: Im Playoff-Hinspiel der Europa League gewinnen die Schwaben gegen Celtic Glasgow mit 4:1 (2:1). Das Rückspiel findet kommende Woche Donnerstag statt.

For Nottingham Forest, and particularly Vítor Pereira and the 1,200 supporters who signed up to this trip, an evening in Istanbul they will not forget in a hurry.

After just three training sessions, Pereira’s first match in charge could scarcely have been more impressive than the statement victory Forest recorded at Fenerbahce to put themselves in command to reach the Europa League last 16. By the end, the yellow and navy stronghold had emptied and the Forest fans present savoured every moment. “Can we play you every week?” they sang, and then: “Where’s your famous atmosphere?”

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© Photograph: Ozan Köse/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ozan Köse/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Ozan Köse/AFP/Getty Images

It is just as well Martin O’Neill wanted no celebration of his 1,000th game in professional management. ­Stuttgart’s visit became men versus Bhoys and a deflating scene for anybody of Celtic persuasion.

This messiest of Celtic seasons, featuring umpteen managers and a similar number of low points has now featured supporters booing their own goalkeeper. Fans decided Kasper Schmeichel’s failure to keep out Jamie Leweling’s 57th-minute shot was a blunder too far. Schmeichel’s subsequent touches were jeered, albeit there was nothing he could do about the goal from Tiago Tomás in stoppage time that added gloss to Stuttgart’s position. The second leg feels like a fixture O’Neill could very much do without, coming days before a crucial visit to Ibrox.

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© Photograph: WM Sport Media/Getty Images

© Photograph: WM Sport Media/Getty Images

© Photograph: WM Sport Media/Getty Images

Portuguese managed Fenerbahce and leads his new side into their Europa League playoff sounding confident

As Vítor Pereira wrapped up his pre‑match media duties at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium on Wednesday evening, his assistant Luís Miguel Moreira da Silva waited at the mouth of the tunnel. “Let’s go?” he said as Pereira eventually emerged, before the Nottingham Forest squad followed the pair on to the pitch.

Then it was down to business, Pereira’s first assignment in charge of Forest at one of his 13 former clubs, Fenerbahce. For Pereira, the Kadikoy district of Istanbul represents familiar territory, having lived in the city across two enjoyable but trophyless spells here as a manager, most recently in 2021.

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© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

© Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

OL had to sell star players to avoid relegation but they are thriving in Ligue 1 and the Europa League

By Get French Football News

When Lyon were spared from administrative relegation to Ligue 2 on appeal over the summer, the overriding feeling was one of relief. During John Textor’s time as owner, the atmosphere became toxic, with fans turning on the directors. More importantly, the American ran Lyon into the ground, with the club registering losses of more than €200m in his final season in charge. Michele Kang came in as president and a place in Ligue 1 was secured but, as thoughts turned to the future last summer, fans must have felt uncertain and even trepidatious.

Lyon’s place in the top flight was guaranteed by providing assurances to the DNCG, French football’s financial watchdog, that the club would sell players and reduce their wage bill. The stripping of the club’s most prized assets had already begun earlier in the summer when Rayan Cherki left to join Manchester City. Georges Mikautadze and Lucas Perri would also depart, both bringing in considerable sums; Nemanja Matic, one of the highest-paid players on the wage bill, was released; and Alexandre Lacazette’s deal expired.

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© Photograph: Olivier Chassignole/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Olivier Chassignole/AFP/Getty Images

© Photograph: Olivier Chassignole/AFP/Getty Images

• Benfica goalkeeper Trubin scored in 4-2 win over Madrid

• Eddie Howe’s men face 3,000-mile trip for first leg

Real Madrid have been dealt an instant rematch with José Mourinho’s Benfica in the Champions League playoffs. The Portuguese club will seek a repeat of Wednesday’s astonishing 4-2 victory against the Spanish giants, when their goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin scored deep into injury time to send them through, and host the first leg in Lisbon.

It is the headline tie in a draw that also gives Newcastle a 3,000-mile journey to Azerbaijan for a first leg against Qarabag. Eddie Howe’s side will feel confident after an impressive display in holding Paris Saint-Germain, last season’s winners, to a 1-1 draw at Parc des Princes on Wednesday, although they will be aware that the Azeri champions, beaten 6-0 at Liverpool, held Chelsea to a 2-2 draw on home soil in November. They will face Barcelona or, in an all-Premier League clash, Chelsea if they go through.

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© Photograph: Pierre Albouy/Reuters

© Photograph: Pierre Albouy/Reuters

© Photograph: Pierre Albouy/Reuters

• Nineteen-year-old fires winner to give Villa 3-2 win

• Rangers’ poor campaign ends with 3-1 loss to Porto

The 19-year-old Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba was the hero as Aston Villa came from two goals down to beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 at Villa Park, though they lost Ollie Watkins to injury in the first half.

Jimoh-Aloba hit the winner with three minutes remaining, tucking Kadan Young’s low cross into the corner to cap a fightback that looked unlikely after a limp showing for an hour.

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© Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

© Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

© Photograph: Adam Vaughan/EPA

• Celtic race into 3-0 lead inside 19 minutes and win 4-2

• O’Neill’s side now face either Stuttgart or Ferencvaros

This was only briefly a little more fraught than it needed to be and looked as if it would be for Celtic. Martin O’Neill can focus on the most important factor in that he has guided the Scottish champions into the Europa league’s playoff phase. Job done, once again, for the effervescent O’Neill. Ferencvaros or Stuttgart lie in wait after Celtic closed in 21st place.

Celtic were fully deserving of their win in what unexpectedly developed into an entertaining clash with Utrecht. O’Neill, thought to be a managerial yesterday’s man not so long ago, continues to do his bit for 70-somethings everywhere. The Irishman will know Celtic must improve to make meaningful, further progress in this competition but such detail can wait. Even continuation in the Europa League had looked a long shot at one point. Utrecht will be delighted to see the back of a tournament which yielded just a single point from eight grisly fixtures.

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© Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

© Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

© Photograph: Andrew Milligan/PA

Presumably, come Friday lunchtime, Evangelos Marinakis will have more than one eye on events at the House of European Football, Uefa’s headquarters in Nyon.

Not only will Olympiakos discover their Champions League playoff opponents but Nottingham Forest will learn whether they will face Fenerbahce or Panathinaikos, his Greek team’s arch rivals, in the Europa League playoffs. Marinakis, the Forest owner, would be public enemy No 1 if Sean Dyche’s side end up across town in Athens.

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© Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters

© Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters

© Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters

Aston Villa hit back from two down to beat Salzburg, Nottingham Forest thrashed Ferencvaros and Celtic secured a playoff place

“Villa feel like a proper club again,” says your roving reporter Martin Keown at Villa Park. Not sure what “proper” means there, but OK.

“They can win the Premier League. Everyone’s saying they can’t.”

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© Photograph: Alex Livesey/AVFC/Aston Villa FC/Getty Images

© Photograph: Alex Livesey/AVFC/Aston Villa FC/Getty Images

© Photograph: Alex Livesey/AVFC/Aston Villa FC/Getty Images

⚽ The latest football news heading into the weekend
⚽ Premier League: 10 things to look out for | Mail Niall

Eddie Howe is now taking questions, and he says Bruno Guimaraẽs could feature against Aston Villa after suffering an injury against PSV in midweek. “Reasonably positive after the game, so we will give him every chance this weekend,” the Newcastle manager said.

Howe added that Dan Burn is back in training after suffering a punctured lung during December’s derby defeat to Sunderland – and was tight-lipped on transfers, saying the club “won’t panic” but will have to be guided by their PSR situation this month.

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© Photograph: Burak Kara/UEFA/Getty Images

© Photograph: Burak Kara/UEFA/Getty Images

© Photograph: Burak Kara/UEFA/Getty Images

Nottingham Forest’s first European adventure for almost 30 years was supposed to be a hoot but the mood music that accompanied a slender defeat in Braga felt rather alarming. The fact is Forest failed to perform and a stale display was typified by the chain of errors that culminated in the captain, Ryan Yates, scoring an own goal that proved sufficient to earn the hosts victory.

A swell of the 2,100 away fans who made the trip to northern Portugal relayed their feelings to Sean Dyche and his squad, jeering the players on several occasions. At full time the question on supporters’ lips was a slightly more direct version of: what on earth was that?

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© Photograph: Zed Jameson/PA

© Photograph: Zed Jameson/PA

© Photograph: Zed Jameson/PA

Roger Federer, an ardent Basel supporter, was up in the stands, in the posh seats to be precise, but even he could surely ignore his allegiances and appreciate the grace with which Youri Tielemans clinched victory for Aston Villa.

Unai Emery turned to Tielemans at half-time and the midfielder delivered within eight minutes, his classy first-time finish regaining the lead, after Evann Guessand’s early strike was cancelled out. This represented a 14th victory in their past 16 matches and it felt a significant one, too, given the pileup at the top of the table amid the scrap to advance automatically to the last 16 in March.

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© Photograph: Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images

© Photograph: Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images

© Photograph: Daniela Porcelli/Getty Images

• Kalimuendo and Jesus goals give Forest 2-1 away win

• Robbie Keane’s Ferencvaros defeat Rangers 2-1

Igor Jesus’s late goal sealed Nottingham Forest a 2-1 win in Utrecht and boosted their hopes of a top-eight finish in the Europa League group phase. Arnaud Kalimuendo’s second-half opener for Forest was cancelled out by the Utrecht substitute Mike van der Hoorn before Jesus stepped off the bench to fire home the visitors’ late winner.

Forest bounced back from last weekend’s disappointing defeat at Everton to secure their third win in this season’s competition – their first on the road – and move on to 11 points after six matches. Murillo, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Douglas Luiz returned from injury as Sean Dyche made nine changes from Saturday’s 3-0 loss, and his rejigged side made an impressive start to the first competitive meeting between the two teams.

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© Photograph: Wart Brinkerhof/MTB-Photo/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Wart Brinkerhof/MTB-Photo/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Wart Brinkerhof/MTB-Photo/Shutterstock