Aston Villa player ratings as John McGinn goal beats Bologna in Europa League opener
Villa start the league phase with a win they badly needed at home
They’re winless in the Premier League and out of the League Cup but the first win has finally arrived.
Aston Villa had to wait until 25th September to pick up their first three points of the season and they came not in the league but courtesy of a home win in their first game of the Europa League.
John McGinn’s brilliant goal earned the victory against Bologna, the second time in a year Villa have beaten the Rossoblu at Villa Park.
Here are the ratings:
Marco Bizot - 7
Relaxed with the ball at his feet. Made two saves look easy from massive dork Federico Bernardeschi after half an hour – his first real stop of the match – and early in the second half. Good punch to clear the danger from a corner before the break.
Matty Cash - 7
Reliable under the pressure of Bologna’s aggressive press. Tidy with the ball and remarkably unaffected by constant criticism. Yellow carded four minutes before half time after Nicolò Cambiaghi beat him. Made a big block to keep out Cambiaghi in the second half but the flag was up – it would have been an interesting VAR check.
Ezri Konsa - 6
Largely kept his cool despite Bologna pressing hard in the first quarter of an hour. Marshalled a steady back four with a vastly improved defensive line that caught Bologna out countless times but was largely untested for long spells.
Pau Torres - 7
Passed a little faster and it made all the difference as his confidence grew and his passing degree of difficulty increased. Comfortable defensively in the absence of a significant physical test.
Ian Maatsen - 6
A very useful contributor on the left both offensively and defensively, contrary to accepted wisdom. Crucial in the winning of a penalty in the middle of the second half. Replaced by Lucas Digne with 15 minutes to go.
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Boubacar Kamara - 7
Vital early defensive contributions and grew into the game in possession as Villa began to keep the ball with purpose. Teed up an early chance for Donyell Malen. Super touch to get Villa on the front foot ten minutes into the second half.
John McGinn - 7
An absolute pest when he got in the groove and even pulled out the classic McGinn pirouette in the second half. Opened the scoring with a brilliantly struck low long-ranger in the 13th minute. Booked with 20 minutes to go.
Evann Guessand - 6
Should have scored at the end of a powerful run after five minutes. Didn’t see a great deal of the ball in the first half but tended to keep Villa going forward when he did.
Lovely through ball for Donyell Malen ten minutes before the break and a clever pass to set up Cash on the stroke of half time. Thrived with space for the first time as a Villa player.
Morgan Rogers - 4
Looked sharper from the start with Bologna leaving some spaces to attack. Whiffed on a well-constructed chance from a corner but McGinn was on hand to fire in the loose ball. Dug out a tremendous cross to win another corner within a few minutes but his final pass otherwise betrayed a serious lack of confidence.
Emi Buendía - 6
Able to show his quality on the ball in the first half, linking with Rogers wide on the left. Clever attempted curler with 25 minutes played after good attacking work by Malen. Read little situations in the opposition half really well to recover the ball in good areas. Substituted just before the hour.
Donyell Malen - 6
Hold-up play improved from his last game at centre-forward. Drew a good save in the 19th minute. More incisive and more of a threat than (a) Ollie Watkins and (b) himself previously, but sometimes struggled to get the ball out of his feet on the run in key moments. Substituted after 57 minutes.
Substitutes
Jadon Sancho (for Buendía, 58) - Grafted off the ball and willing to put himself in a position to get hurt. Made himself a late chance but snatched at the strike. 6
Ollie Watkins (for Malen, 58) - Won the penalty but it revealed a dearth of confidence that he didn’t get the shot away. Took it. Saved. 4
Lucas Digne (for Maatsen, 75) - Solid performer off the bench. 5