Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers (Image: CameraSport via Getty Images)
Aston Villa were made to settle for a point - despite brief belief late on that they'd nicked all three - as their Champions League campaign continued against Juventus at Villa Park on Wednesday night. Villa were grateful to Emiliano Martinez for pulling off a stunning first half save to deny Francisco Conceicao and keep at bay a heavily depleted Juve side.
Villa Park prematurely exploded when Morgan Rogers found the back of the net in stoppage time, only for referee Gil Manzano to rule the goal out for a foul supposedly committed by Diego Carlos on Juve goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio.
Villa now sit in ninth, one place outside of the top eight who proceed automatically to the last 16 of the competition without the need to partake in the round preceding it - played out by sides who end the group stage sitting between ninth and 24th - but they remain unbeaten and defensively unexposed at home after three games at B6. Here is how the national press in England and Italy reflected on the stalemate.
READ: How Martinez mocked Juve keeper as Luiz watches Villa match Chelsea record
READ: 'Cleary no foul', Villa progress, Kamara praise - Every word Emery said after Juve draw
Gazzetta
"A game lacking in great emotions (apart from the goal disallowed in the 94th minute against Aston Villa) and with few real opportunities, but played with great attention and sacrifice by a compact Juve, decimated by injuries and absences (eight in total), who came out of the match undefeated. Another 0-0, the second consecutive, which doesn't satisfy the fine palates, but certainly can't be defined as negative.
"Could Juve have done more? The list of unavailable players had a certain effect: Bremer, Cabal, Milik, Nico Gonzalez, Douglas Luiz, Vlahovic, McKennie, Adzic. Many, too many. Especially in attack, because you can say that with a false nine you don't give a reference to the opponents and you can be more unpredictable, without a real centre forward and a presence in the penalty area in the long run it gets tough."
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BBC Sport
"Villa have struggled to replicate the form they enjoyed last season when finishing fourth in the Premier League and qualifying for the Champions League. Before this match Emery insisted his side are enjoying their time in Europe's top club competition, the first time they have featured in it for more than 40 years. While they started their campaign well with three victories, they are now perhaps beginning to feel the demands of a gruelling domestic and European schedule.
"Since the win over Bologna in late October, they have been knocked out of the EFL Cup and failed to win any of their other six matches in the Premier League and Europe. A draw was ultimately a fair result, and Villa's earlier results in Europe this season means they can afford a couple of slip-ups and still be in a strong position to progress to the last 16."
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i News
"The problem appears to be in midfield, where the wait for Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara to start together goes on. This is arguably the desired double pivot for Emery since Douglas Luiz left for Juve in the summer, but what could well be a promising partnership is yet to take flight. In the meantime, Emery has kept faith with Tielemans, starting the Belgian in every Champions League and Premier League match so far this term. Once Onana returns it could be a case of choosing one of McGinn or Tielemans in a more attacking role.
"Rogers’ own position – having played out on the left against Juve with McGinn the attacking central midfielder – could come into question too, for despite the late drama he was otherwise poor, and that leaves Emery with the prospect of dropping either his captain or a player who recently made his England debut, should he want to move Tielemans up. Reminding Rogers he is not undroppable could prove beneficial in the long run, and though it seems drastic, in this moment something has got to give. Such a run requires a bold change."
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Mail Online
"If the fears around a revamped and remodelled Champions League were that some of these extra group matches would lose their bite, then this was an evening to confirm a few suspicions.
"And what a shame that is. There is no end of beauty when you picture the grand Old Lady of European football under the grand old lights of Villa Park, but the reality was different - she shuffled around with little purpose and those beams were the only source of brightness. The rest was forgettable, a dull shade of grey, with the exception of one brilliant moment and another that was highly controversial.
"In the bigger picture, the draw keeps Villa in decent health in the Champions League, but failed to arrest a run of winless matches that has now stretched to seven. With Chelsea next up on their domestic agenda, there is a growing need for Emery to break the inertia that has taken hold of his side. Their presence in these European nights will compensate for ground in the Premier League, but they are curiously lacking in confidence compared to what we saw last season."
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Fair result? Tell us HERE