What a game.
And more importantly, what a victory!
It’s been a long time since a game had me on tenterhooks like that and I honestly don’t know if I enjoyed it, such was Bayern’s dominance, where overall they battered us.
I’m still analysing the game in my head, but there’s no getting away from the fact that this was a superb defensive performance, led by some superb goalkeeping from Emi Martinez. He really is the big match player, isn’t he?
And then of course, there’s that superb strike from Duran, who surely just added another £5 million to his value.
And then, there is the atmosphere. The fans were outstanding and hardly stopped singing all night. They really were the Twelfth man and if that sounded great on the telly, I’ll bet it was goosebumps time for those who were there to witness it.
And then add in that Villa added Gary Shaw to the squad list and hey, this was a great night all round. We really are a classy club and that was demonstrative of why so many neutrals have us as their second team, in my experience. Long may it continue.
So while I’m incredibly happy, there’s always room for a bit of negativity.
As much as Konsa played a big part in a good defensive performance, I still don’t like him going to far forward. Barkley gave the ball away ridiculously easy, but he wasn’t alone. I now concede that in this type of game he definitely has something to add (bear in mind I really didn’t like him just weeks ago.)
The “on the back foot” throughout the game doesn’t suit me, but I’m sure I’m not alone in that and the fact is that as much as I thought it was an unpleasant watch, I can only admit that Emery’s tactics worked.
There’s ultimately only one thing that matters in football and that’s the result. The history books will show that Aston Villa took the win and the points.
I believe you need 12 points to achieve the playoff stage? You’d have to think we have every chance of making that with a bit of room to spare. Not that I’m counting any chickens.
Let’s not forget this is the Villa we’re talking about.
But let’s counter that line with “if you can beat Bayern, anything is possible”.
And with Emery calling the shots, who knows where we can go? After all we keep surpassing my expectations!
UTV!
Unbelievable.
What a memerable night!
Great write up but the possession thing?
Battered us?
No
Badger, post match interview with Chesty( your pin poster boy 😁) it was the game plan.
Let them have the ball, hit on the break, it worked.
Happy days ( Unai I love you).
See, that’s the thing. I don’t like the other side having so much possession.
It just doesn’t sit right with me, with my very traditional view of the aim of the game being to put the ball in the net more times than the opposition.
Okay, it worked and there’s no way I can slate Emery for that, but if they’d have scored and went on to win, I’d have been the first to say “what do you expect when we play like that?”
It’s a case of “Unai the way more knowledgable than me” though and I’m happy to admit that. 🙂
Ultimately, it was a great night and a great result.
Mate we did the same in 82, they battered us but we did the same.
It’s football.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat.
You can have the ball all day but it’s about what you do with it when you have it.
It’s a funny old game 😁
Speaking to a few Scousers today, there were a few who fancied us.
See the post match interview?Chesty, what a really nice humble lad and as much as I criticise, it’s what Unai tells him to do.
Hold my hands up…
You were right 👍
Fair play.
Ash loves him and Ferdinand reckons he’s going to be a great player with the way he drives forward.
Always happy to come to a consensus after first having differing views. It’s very healthy 🙂
OH MY BELOVED VILLA. crying all the way from Seoul 🙌🥺
That match tonight was a carbon copy of the 82 game,that also was all Bayern,and we had a goalkeeper who kept us in the match.
Exactly the same tonight a goalkeeper kept us in it,the only difference was a superb goal rather than a lucky shin of one.
Brilliant Brilliant villa and defense was brilliant tonight
I’m glad to be still alive to see villa have great times again long may it continue
What a result! Emery just knows how to go about defeating a team with a better squad.
I must admit that when I saw Philogene playing from the start I thought that’s us done. What a game he had. With Bailey off form / injured, Philogene will take great confidence from that performance and play more often.
Form is temporary class is permanent. Martínez has conceded a couple of soft goals this season. Last night when the pressure was on to deliver he was outstanding.
And Duran never ceases to amaze. What a clinical finisher he is!
With the exception of Bailey every Villa player put in a shift.
It looks like the injuries are starting to mount up – Ramsey and Onana. I’m assuming Bailey has to be carrying a knock, as he has been miles off it all season. Just Manure at the weekend then another international break, which I detest. However, this time around it will be a blessing, as after it Cash, Kamara, Mings and McGinn return. This will be the moment when we can step up a gear.
Thank God for the break! Dropping like flies already…
I thought we were utterly brilliant last night. Certainly Bayern had most of the ball and put us under a lot of pressure, but i agree with Ron. They in no way battered us. Some of our passing under pressure was phenomenal but als we did give the ball away. One of those games when the ball just won’t stay with you. Emi is a SUPERSTAR and the whole team put in a shift. I exploded when we scored last night as I guess every Claret and Blue fan did! (Except Burnley, Scunthorpe, West Ham etc). I bet even our Spanish counterparts did too!!!!!
Bloody hell I love this club!!!!
I was at the weekly pub quiz last night but sitting right by the TV showing the Villa game. Was about as much use as a chocolate fire guard in the quiz – wonder why 🙂
First group game loss by Bayern since 2017 when they were beaten by PSG managed by a certain Unai Emery.
Notwithstanding my earlier comment, I wasn’t able to apply my full attention to the game but from what I saw I thought Villa played exceptionally well, great goal by Duran – again. I didn’t see the VAR offside info on Torres goal so no idea how close it was.
It seemed to me that Watkins was continually fouled but got no protection from the ref who seemed to be biased towards Bayern – now there’s a surprise!
Loved the reactions of Prince William who seems happy to sit in the stands despite others claiming they couldn’t due to ‘security considerations’.
Now can we beat Manure?
UTMV
Before Duran scores I was boring the wife senseless about Dalian Atkinson’s wonder goal against Wimbledon, how Big Ron had told them their keeper (Segers?) had a habit of wondering off his line – if you got the opportunity to chip him.
Then enter stage left Big John Duran and does a Dalian on Neuer.
Oh happy days.
I’m still dreaming , was at the game 40 years ago and to see that game today made me feel incredibly young again , twice in a lifetime for me what more can I asked for. I decided to go round to my daughter’s to see the game rather than watching at mine. See as like all my family are staunch Villa supporters when we scored the whole of the house including the dog exploded into dancing and shouting. Boy glad to still be here to see my great football team give us so much joy,, one for you my son in heaven we are still the best and we seen them Together once.
Really happy for you and the family Bill. Truely great night and we were awesome.
Fantastic noise in the stadium last night -I can’t remember it as loud as that since the days when we used to have 50,000 + in the ground – and there was as much coming from the North Stand as the Holte!
I certainly wouldn’t agree that Bayern ‘battered’ us last night; in relaity Martinez didn’t have too many saves to make. And Bayern were a bit lucky to still have 11 players on the pitch by half-time: I could easily see a few PL referees waving cards at their defenders for the treatment they were giving Watkins every time he got the ball in their half.
A night to remember (& I hope to get both my hearing & voice back sometime today…)
Woooooiio aside from winning trophies that has to be the best result in our history beating a top European club and competing with them in the top competition is just ammmazing so proud to be Villa UTV woo hoooo
What a night. I’ve never heard Villa Park so noisy. Hats off to all the players and staff.
Must have been great to be there Ardent I was jumping all round me local here on the Wirral absolutely loved last night
One of the people I was with last night is a Villa fan who lives & works around L’pool. He was bouncing back to his car late after the game saying how much he was going to enjoy the drive back…
Must have been great to be there Ardent and DS I was jumping all round me local here on the Wirral absolutely loved last night
Fascinating how Emery changed the strategy to deal with Bayern’s high line – less trying to play their aggressive press, more sit back and play over it.
There’s no doubt we’re extremely dangerous when teams come onto us, less so if they sit deep against us,
Sumptuous ball from Torres to ‘Captain Chaos’ and a brilliant, mature finish from a player so young and relatively inexperienced.
I’m absolutely buzzing today – even got a really nice message from a bluenose mate of mine.
UTMV
I thought Torres was very unlucky for that VAR decsion on his ‘goal’ – a great piece of work leading up to it.
Although Duran & Martinez got all of the praise last night, Torres had a fantastic game for all 90+ minutes, and could easily have been MOTM.
This rule about letting play go on and on after an offside until a goal is scored is bloody stupid. If the linesman sees an offside, blow the bloody whistle and put your flag up!
Pau’s goal should have stood after that many touches of the ball.
Hitch, I CANNOT believe you went to a pub quiz last night!!!!
The comments below our match report in the Daily Mail, there were dozens and dozens of other clubs supporters congratulating us and saying we were fantastic!!!!
And did you know Oliver Holt is one of us??? Was there at the ’83 Juventus game as a kid!
Blackmailed into going – not saying anymore.
I saw most of the game tbf and enjoyed the atmosphere in the pub – otherwise would have been sat at home watching on my ‘Jack Jones’.
Still pinching myself. For those lucky ones who made the game, you’ve seen history in the making. Ten out of ten for everyone except Emi who gets eleven. Top eight finish anyone?
I keep getting confused when we talk about both top 4 and top 8 finishes!!!! A war on 2 fronts!
If you want to relive the moment then this is simply the dogs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elcyHC3BIPU
Been and seen it RSS also catch Back but no sound and that spoiled in for me . Just cannot stop looking back at the game , also reading about our next match against Man Utd, that in itself going to be interesting as the new owners are at the game so all eyes on that game .
Great link – thanks RSS.
Felt I was in the stadium – hairs standing up on the back of my neck and tears in my eyes. What it is to be a Villa supporter – so lucky.
Brilliant piece of editing by VillaTV – well done guys.
Tears in my eyes again seeing that .to see it again had only picture no sound I wanted to see and hear the crowd again thanks RSS happy fan .
That’s a great piece of editing just like Hitch says. Makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck
It’s absolutely beautiful, the way they captured both the players and fans perspective, the atmosphere and with a nod to our history.
Well done villa TV 👏
https://www.youtube.com/@GuillemBalagueOfficial
Interesting watch on YouTube as respected Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague is posting content about the progress of his latest book on Unai Emery and Aston Villa.
For context, one of his previous books was an authorised bio of Messi.
Chances of the Citeh and Arsenal games staying as draws?
Nah…Would be nice though.
Nah. Thought not.