Aston Villa have had a slow start to this season’s Uefa Conference League despite being the favourites to lift the trophy next year. That changed last night as Aston Villa brushed AZ Alkmaar to one side, with ease, in their backyard.
This game felt crucial given how the opening two games had started and now Villa’s next two fixtures in the competition will be at Villa Park. Maximum points will secure qualification to the next round.
Report: AZ Alkmaar 1-4 Aston Villa
Unai Emery made four changes from the side that beat West Ham on Sunday as Leon Bailey, Diego Carlos, Clément Lenglet and Youri Tielemans came into the side.
The home side had the first change of the game but Dani de Wit’s effort took a deflection off Lenglet and fell wide of the goal.
It was clear Villa had a game plan and came close when Bailey brought the ball down on his chest, sniffled on the ball and shot past Mat Ryan in the AZ goal to give the away side the advantage.
Emery’s side soon doubled their lead when John McGinn won the ball from Sven Mijnans before finding Tielemans. The Belgian midfielder took a touch before slotting home to make it 0-2.
A mistake from Boubacar Kamara very nearly gifted the home side a way back into the game but Vangelis Pavlidis could only fire his effort wide of the goal. Probably the easiest effort from the first half – for either side.
The home side would have regretted missing their chance when Villa scored another just after half-time. Tielemans picked out Bailey whose effort was parried into the path of Ollie Watkins to score Villa’s third.
A few minutes later, the route was complete as Villa made it four. Bailey was released down the wing by Kamara who was able to pick out McGinn who tapped in at the near post.
The home side did pull one back through Ibrahim Sadiq but it proved to be too little too late as Villa ran out comfortable winners.
What the manager said
Unai Emery: “If we want to be a contender we have to show every day and when we are playing those matches, we have to show everybody our wishes. I think we did it,
“We are respecting them because they played in the semi-final last year against West Ham. They won last year against Lazio, they won last year against Anderlecht and it’s because they have experiences in European competitions.
“I am very happy with the players because I think they have to be mature, responsible and demanding themselves, not only when I’m pushing them. They have to try to increase their own individual and collective level.”
Up Next
Aston Villa are back in action at Villa Park this Sunday when they take on newly promoted Luton Town.