- Teen Konstas to open for Australia in Boxing Day India Test
- Asian stocks mostly up after US tech rally
- US panel could not reach consensus on US-Japan steel deal: Nippon
- The real-life violence that inspired South Korea's 'Squid Game'
- Blogs to Bluesky: social media shifts responses after 2004 tsunami
- Tennis power couple de Minaur and Boulter get engaged
- Supermaxi yachts eye record in gruelling Sydney-Hobart race
- Hawaii's Kilauea volcano erupts, spewing columns of lava
- El Salvador Congress votes to end ban on metal mining
- Five things to know about Panama Canal, in Trump's sights
- NBA fines Minnesota guard Edwards $75,000 for outburst
- Haitians massacred for practicing voodoo were abducted, hacked to death: UN
- Inter beat Como to keep in touch with leaders Atalanta
- Mixed day for global stocks as market hopes for 'Santa Claus rally'
- Man Utd boss Amorim questions 'choices' of Rashford's entourage
- Trump's TikTok love raises stakes in battle over app's fate
- Is he serious? Trump stirs unease with Panama, Greenland ploys
- England captain Stokes to miss three months with torn hamstring
- Support grows for Blake Lively over smear campaign claim
- Canada records 50,000 opioid overdose deaths since 2016
- Jordanian, Qatari envoys hold talks with Syria's new leader
- France's second woman premier makes surprise frontline return
- France's Macron announces fourth government of the year
- Netanyahu tells Israel parliament 'some progress' on Gaza hostage deal
- Guatemalan authorities recover minors taken by sect members
- Germany's far-right AfD holds march after Christmas market attack
- European, US markets wobble awaiting Santa rally
- Serie A basement club Monza fire coach Nesta
- Mozambique top court confirms ruling party disputed win
- Biden commutes almost all federal death sentences
- Syrian medics say were coerced into false chemical attack testimony
- NASA solar probe to make its closest ever pass of Sun
- France's new government to be announced Monday evening: Elysee
- London toy 'shop' window where nothing is for sale
- Volkswagen boss hails cost-cutting deal but shares fall
- Accused killer of US insurance CEO pleads not guilty to 'terrorist' murder
- Global stock markets mostly higher
- Not for sale. Greenland shrugs off Trump's new push
- Sweden says China blocked prosecutors' probe of ship linked to cut cables
- Acid complicates search after deadly Brazil bridge collapse
- Norwegian Haugan dazzles in men's World Cup slalom win
- Arsenal's Saka out for 'many weeks' with hamstring injury
- Mali singer Traore child custody case postponed
- France mourns Mayotte victims amid uncertainy over government
- UK economy stagnant in third quarter in fresh setback
- Sweden says China denied request for prosecutors to probe ship linked to cut undersea cables
- African players in Europe: Salah leads Golden Boot race after brace
- Global stock markets edge higher as US inflation eases rate fears
- German far-right AfD to march in city hit by Christmas market attack
- Ireland centre Henshaw signs IRFU contract extension
Emery challenges Villa to seize Champions League chance
Unai Emery has challenged Aston Villa to seize their chance to move a step closer to the Champions League last 16 against Club Brugge on Wednesday.
Villa are on top of the Champions League table after reeling off three successive victories in their first appearance in Europe's elite club competition for 41 years.
Another win in Belgium would fire Villa towards a top eight finish in the new league phase of the competition.
The top eight in the first phase will go straight into the last 16, avoiding the need for a play-off round in February.
"Tomorrow we have the possibility to get one step ahead in this competition, to be a contender in the top eight," Emery told reporters on Tuesday.
"This is a really amazing objective we can achieve and can face tomorrow. But if we are not playing with the 100 per cent focus we did in other Champions League matches it is going to be difficult.
"We are aware about the possibility to get the fourth victory, 12 points and the expectation for the next round to be in the top eight.
"But there will be some surprises if we are getting there. We are a surprise, we are not contenders or favourites to be in the top eight. Maybe in the next round but not in the top eight.
"Some teams are going to be out, favourites out, but with the possibility to play the next round and then the teams finishing in the top eight."
Villa face Brugge on the back of a dismal 4-1 defeat at Tottenham in the Premier League on Sunday.
Emery's men also lost to Crystal Palace in the League Cup last week and the Spaniard conceded his team need to show more consistency.
"We are not playing as consistently well as we need to. If we can’t do that, it will be difficult to achieve our objectives," he said.
"We need to be more intelligent than other teams. Tactically, mentally and even emotionally."
P.M.Smith--AMWN