Aston Villa win big on return to top European stage

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Unai Emery wants Aston Villa to be competitive in the Champions League

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery is determined that his club can make their mark in this season's Champions League, just as they did in the Premier League last season.

Updated: Sep 17, 2024, 08:37 pm

Aston Villa made an impressive return to Europe's elite as they began their Champions League campaign with an accomplished 3-0 victory away to Swiss club Young Boys on Tuesday.

Youri Tielemans fired Villa in front in the 27th minute of their first game in Europe's top club competition for 41 years and after that the Premier League side dominated on the artificial turf of the Stadion Wankdorf.

Villa, European champions in 1982, doubled their advantage in the 38th minute with Jacob Ramsey tapping in from close range after terrible Young Boys defending.

The visitors had goals by Ollie Watkins and substitute Jhon Durán wiped off for handball but Amadou Onana drove in Villa's third late on to underline their superiority.

It proved a highly-satisfying night though for Unai Emery's side who will face stiffer tests against the likes of Bayern Munich, Juventus and Celtic in the competition's new format.

Youri Tielemans opened the scoring for Aston Villa in their opening Champions League match.
Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Villa's fans have waited a long time for glamour European nights on foreign soil and the 1,500 who made the trip were well-rewarded as their team turned on the style.

It was a poignant night too with fans singing the name of Villa's European Cup winning striker Gary Shaw who died on Monday as a result of a fall, aged 63.

Shaw was part of the side that beat Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final and also played in Villa's European Super Cup win over Barcelona the following season.

Since those heady days Villa have experienced tough times but under Spaniard Emery are now punching their weight again.

They were far too good for Young Boys after a slightly hesitant start which saw Villa keeper Emiliano Martínez forced into a save to keep out a shot by Ebrima Colley.

Villa soon settled though and took the lead when John McGinn picked out Tielemans following a short corner and the Belgian took a touch before angling his shot past Young Boys keeper David von Ballmoos to become the first Villa player to score in the competition since Peter Withe in the 1983 quarterfinal.

The hosts gifted Villa their second goal as defender Mohamed Ali Camara passed the ball straight to Watkins who tumbled under the challenge of Von Ballmoos. It could have been a penalty but play continued and Ramsey tapped home.

Watkins was unfortunate to have a goal chalked off for handball after a VAR check and the livewire Duran was equally frustrated after his superb finish also counted for nothing.

There was no doubting Onana's effort though as he slammed home his third goal since joining from Everton in the summer.