Villa beat Fenerbache in the Champions League. Only the start, says Dave Woodhall.
This time two years ago Villa Park entered the Champions League and made Europe take note. A lot’s happened since then – a quarter of the ground and most of the team have gone for a start – but even though the quality of the opposition might not have been the same as on that wonderful night in 2024, the quality of Villa’s performance was just as good.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka at left-back, Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi starting meant that the team might have to score a few goals because they’ve been struggling at the back and there was certainly the potential there to take the game to the visitors. And that’s just what happened. Twelve minutes in and a cross was headed out and straight to Manzambi. There might have been a bit of luck in the deflection that wrong-footed the keeper but Fenerbache deserved every bit of it for the amount of space they left inside the penalty area.
Nineteen minutes later and Boubacar Kamara won the ball in midfield, drove forward and laid it off for Nicolas Jackson. Two-nil and Villa were looking good.
Fenerbache had a bit of attacking and Zion Suzuki had to be at his best, particularly when pushing one shot onto the bar, but six minutes before half-time Jackson’s fifth in six games put the result beyond doubt. John McGinn hadn’t had to be involved very much until then but he won the ball and a couple of passes later Jackson was able to create and finish another opportunity. There’s naturally been some debate whether the building work at the North Stand has affected Villa so far this season. If it has, three goals at that end in the first half showed that there wasn’t a problem tonight.
Birthday boy Manzambi was brought down in the area while performing yet another bit of trickery and Ross Barkley’s ensuing penalty gave Villa their fourth. Barkley’s appearances in the team have led to a few adverse comments but Unai knows best and four minutes after his first, there was a second when Mbaye kept the ball in and laid it off for a shot that was another deflection but again, it was well-deserved.
Five-nil up and bringing on Alysson and Joao Gomes might seem cruel but there’s goal difference to be considered. In the final minute the Brazilian danced around the penalty area for Tammy Abraham to tap in Villa’s sixth.
There could have been time for more but in the one act of compassion all evening the ref only added on a minute after a half that include three goals and eight substitutions. He could have played a bit longer considering the cost of the tickets.
Villa’s biggest-ever European win and not only that but also a boost to the team’s confidence. They can win at home, keep a clean sheet and the players we’re seeing are on their way to becoming the type of forward line other clubs used to have and we used to dream about. By the end of the season we could boast the most exciting eighteen, nineteen and 21 year olds in Europe; that’s not so much a new chapter as an epic in waiting.
