Euro Wrap: Parrott on the mark again as Alkmaar thrash Spart Praha, Villa and Forest progress

Meanwhile, Ismaila Sarr booked Crystal Palace a Conference League quarter-final meeting with Fiorentina with the extra-time winner in their 2-1 victory at nine-man AEK Larnaca to settle the tie by the same score on aggregate

AZ Alkmaar's Irish forward #09 Troy Parrott reacts during the Dutch Eredivisie football match between AZ Alkmaar and Ajax Amsterdam at AFAS Stadion in Alkmaar on February 8, 2026. (Photo by Olaf Kraak / ANP / AFP via Getty Images) / Netherlands OUT

Troy Parrott was on the mark again for AZ Alkmaar as the Dutch side destroyed Sparta Praha 0-4 in Prague - where Ireland will take on the Czechs a week from now in the World Cup play-off semi final - to reach the Conference League quarter-finals. 

Isak Jensen put Alkmaar ahead after only eight minutes. The game was tightly contested up until the 58th minute when Parrott hit the back of the net  after coming onto a first time cross from the right hand side and using his left peg to guide the ball into the top corner. 

Three minutes later the Praha keeper was picking the ball out of the net again when Sven Mijnans took his chance well. Parrott assisted Ro-Zangelo Daal with 17 minutes remaining, the Irish striker producing a great pass to find Daal in the penalty area who rifled a low shot into the net.

Worryingly for Heimir Hallgrímson and Ireland fans, Parrott was taken off after 76 minutes due to an injury. It isn't know yet if the inury is serious or just a knock.

A moment of brilliance from Emiliano Martinez helped Aston Villa reach a third successive European quarter-final as they saw off Lille in the Europa League.

The Argentina goalkeeper, whose long-term future at Villa remains in doubt, played a big part in John McGinn's second-half opener 15 seconds after making an important save.

Leon Bailey's late second goal completed a 2-0 win on the night, 3-0 on aggregate, setting up a quarter-final meeting with either Bologna or Roma.

Progress keeps Villa's dream of a trophy alive and, after falling short in the Conference League and Champions League in the last two seasons, Europa League specialist Unai Emery must be smelling the scent of a fifth title.

As Emery was at pains to point out before the game, these are halcyon days for Villa.

Their journey under the Spaniard has been full of highlights and three successive European quarter-finals are proof of that. Indeed, few would bet against him lifting the trophy in Istanbul in May.

Midtjylland missed all three of their penalties in a decisive shoot-out as Nottingham Forest overcame a first-leg deficit to book their spot in the Europa League quarter-finals.

Forest had trailed 1-0 heading into the second leg but registered a 2-1 away victory in Denmark before prevailing 3-0 on penalties.

Goals have evaded Forest for the best part of a tough campaign but they made their quality count on a couple of occasions and then again from the spot to set up a quarter-final clash with either Stuttgart or Porto.

A much-changed Forest side were looking to overturn their narrow deficit from the City Ground last week but Vitor Pereira's team selection made it seem like the focus was on Premier League survival rather than European qualification.

They managed to get their deserved opener towards the end of the first period courtesy of Nicolas Dominguez's header and they edged ahead in the tie through captain Yates' rocket before Martin Erlic's strike for the hosts sent the match to extra time.

Lorenzo Lucca and Yates had goals ruled out through offside in extra time and, in the shootout, Midtjylland missed all three from the spot while Forest were perfect.

Ismaila Sarr booked Crystal Palace a Conference League quarter-final meeting with Fiorentina with the extra-time winner in their 2-1 victory at nine-man AEK Larnaca to settle the tie by the same score on aggregate.

The Senegal international also opened the scoring in the 13th minute at the home of the second-placed Cypriot First Division side, where the visitors emerged with more attacking intent than last week's lacklustre Selhurst Park draw.

Enric Saborit powered home a header to draw the sides level in the 63rd minute, then made things much harder for his team-mates when he was sent off for tugging Sarr down 10 minutes later.

Sarr finally broke the deadlock from a Palace corner in the ninth minute of the first period of added time, and came within inches of a hat-trick when he clipped the crossbar twice before the final whistle.

The hosts played out the closing minutes with nine men after Petros Ioannou was dismissed for a dangerous challenge on second-half substitute Jean-Philippe Mateta.