Aston Villa fans will have mixed feelings about that one after their goalless draw against Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday night.
On the one hand, Unai Emery has watched his team secure a clean sheet and another point towards a possible top-eight finish in the Champions League.
But, on the other, the officiating during Villa’s draw with Juventus was pathetic and that stoppage-time goal from Morgan Rogers shouldn’t have been disallowed.
In the long run, Aston Villa will find out whether this is a point gained or two points dropped, but that’s another clean sheet in Europe’s elite competition.
That is saying something because the team is an imposter in the Premier League – conceding 19 goals from 12 games, yet only one in Europe.
From a defensive aspect, Emery will be pleased by what his side produced against Juve because that was them at their best.
And there was one man who played the most important role of them all.
Boubacar Kamara runs the show as Aston Villa draw Juventus
Sitting in the Holte End, watching Boubacar Kamara back in action, is a sight every Villa fan is glad to see and it’s much needed.
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After Kamara’s season-ending injury in February of the previous campaign, Villa totally collapsed from a defensive aspect and never looked the same.
Yes, that has continued this term when he returned, but he hasn’t started regularly as he finds his feet and mojo again.
Plus, he had a recent setback and returned for the Juve match and, surprise, surprise, it’s a clean sheet to Villa’s name.
The manner in which Kamara takes the ball from deep and then makes the right decision to either carry the ball or find a teammate is of the highest quality.
In a pretty competitive midfield, including coming up against his fellow countryman Khephren Thuram, he bossed proceedings, was super aggressive without the ball, was strong in the air and put out these dangerous fires.
The more games he starts, the better for Villa and their hopes of getting back to their defensive best because Kamara makes the world of difference.
Boubacar Kamara of Aston Villa and Khephren Thuram of Juventus during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5 match between Aston Villa ...
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Kamara’s stats for Aston Villa v Juventus
The 25-year-old has played just over 300 minutes of football this term and Emery now needs to start increasing that for the Frenchman.
Yes, as Kamara played 78 minutes against Juve, he is perhaps being protected and worked up again, from a fitness perspective, but that can last only so long.
When Amadou Onana is fit, if it is a choice between the two, then Kamara starts ahead of the summer signing every day of the week.
Nonetheless, WhoScored rated Kamara’s performance at 6.79, as he didn’t just put in a strong display, but also made a world of difference to those around him.
Key Passes PA% Aerials won Touches Total tackles Inter Accurate LB Rating
1 83.3 3 52 2 1 3 6.79
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