‘Wild’ was the word Marco Rose used to describe Aston Villa’s enthralling 3-2 win over RB Leipzig in matchday six of the Champions League first phase.
A good choice, to be honest.
Although the RB Leipzig boss could also have chosen ‘thrilling’. Perhaps ‘chaotic’.
There were five goals – some fortune, some fabulous – a few defensive howlers, some wonderful football underpinned by some calamitous football.
Aston Villa’s performance can best be summed up by the performances of Emi Martinez and Jhon Duran. While Martinez gifted Lois Openda an equaliser with an ‘awful’ mistake at 1-1, Duran remembered his Bayern Munich wondergoal and emulated it with another sublime lob to leave Peter Gulacsi – like Manuel Neuer on matchday one – bemused in the Red Bull net.
Leipzig equalised in stunning fashion soon after Duran’s latest long-ranger – Christoph Baumgartner volleying home beautifully – only for Ross Barkley’s speculative 85th minute drive to go careering off Lukas Klostermann and send the travelling Villa supporters into raptures.
Ross Barkley of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's third goal with teammate Jhon Duran during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase...
Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images
RB Leipzig boss praises ‘very good’ Aston Villa
“Today, it was very wild,” Rose says during his post-match press conference. “Again, we went behind early and then we also realised that we had to change something.
“Nevertheless, we were in the game. We equalised in a difficult game against a good opponent. Then, to lose by a deflected shot, an undeserved defeat.”
Rose highlighted Aston Villa’s qualities in possession, Unai Emery’s team cutting through a poorly-organised Leipzig outfit with ease.
Youri Tielemans was outstanding at times, picking the lock with such ease that one suspects he could break into the Tower of London and steal the crown jewels from under the security staff’s nose.
John McGinn played with a trademark intensity too – he gave Villa the lead after just two minutes following Ollie Watkins’ knockdown – and what a difference Boubacar Kamara makes when the Frenchman is fully fit and firing.
“I believe this is a very good Villa with the ball, who find good spaces,” Rose adds, left ruing a big Openda miss at 2-2 following a Pau Torres blunder. “Nevertheless, we tried.
“Our fans were excellent. They got behind us for 90 minutes tonight. We’re once again here discussing a narrow defeat following a tough game against a good opponent.
“We had periods that went in our favour and against us. We had the momentum on our side after making it 2-2. And, after not making it 3-2 from Lois’ big chance, a deflected shot gave them the lead again.
“I can’t fault my players, they tried their best. We simply have to suffer at the moment and get through this. We’ll lift the lads’ spirits after tonight.”
Unai Emery delighted as he targets top-eight Champions League finish
With six defeats out of six, RB Leipzig are mathematically the first team to be eliminated from this new-look Champions League.
Aston Villa, in contrast, could hardly be better placed as Unai Emery looks to add another chapter to his sprawling continental story. The four-time Europa League winner has Villa sitting third with only two matchdays remaining, having taken 13 points from clashes with Bayern Munich, BSC Young Boys, Bologna, Juventus and RB Leipzig.
“I’m very happy,” a triumphant Emery said at full-time. “The supporters were here with us and they were fantastic. They help us massively always in this competition and today as well, and we got those three points because we were feeling comfortable.
“We planned the match like we did and we are thankful for the supporters, thankful for every Aston Villa follower because we enjoy the Champions League with them.
“We have 13 points now and we have to be happy, but we have to keep balance. In this competition, we are now in the top 24, maybe in the top 16, but we have the opportunity with winning today to play for the top eight positions.
“We will work for it.”
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