Aston Villa's Jhon Duran celebrates
Aston Villa's Jhon Duran celebrates
Former Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton has predicted that his old side are now bound for a top eight finish in the Champions League after they posted their fourth win of the campaign in Leipzig on Tuesday night. Villa edged out their Bundesliga hosts with the odd goal in five, thanks to strikes from John McGinn, Jhon Duran and Ross Barkley late on.
After responding domestically to their eight-game winless streak, Villa have taken their newfound good form, established with the double home win last week in the Premier League, back into Europe. They now, remarkably, sit third in the 36-team league table, of which the top eight progress straight through to the last 16.
It's still tight; Villa have earned themselves 13 points from a possible 18 and they're one of four sides who sit on that tally, alongside Bayer Leverkusen, Inter Milan and fellow surprise package Brest, who are all behind runaway leaders Liverpool who boast a perfect record after six games. Looking the other way, Villa have all but mathematically confirmed a top 24 finish but are only two points above ninth.
READ: Why the linesman broke down in tears after Aston Villa's 3-2 win over RB Leipzig
READ: Why Duran is outgrowing his nickname as Villa close in on surprise £9.4m boost
Albrighton, though, was taken by what he saw as Villa prevailed over Leipzig - who have now lost all six of their Champions League games this season - and now is of the opinion, based on what he's seen, that they should confirm themselves a top eight finish with fixtures against Monaco and Celtic to come.
"What helps them a lot is the experience the manager, Unai Emery, has got in European football," Albrighton told BBC Radio 5Live. "He's been there and done that on many occasions and I know how, in these European competitions, that he'll be putting that message across to his players and teaching them to play that way. I do see them qualifying in the top eight if I'm honest.
"The way they played on Tuesday, they looked a top side again. Before this blip, they looked a top side. They need to eradicate the silly goals they're conceding, but on the whole I thought they dominated the game and to do that away from home in the Champions League fixture is a tough ask, but they did that really well."
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