Aston Villa player ratings after defeat of Young Boys in the Europa League
Villa make it four wins out of five to go temporarily second in the league phase table
It’ll be a long and miserable journey home for the travelling support of BSC Young Boys and they deserve every second of it.
Aston Villa initially made light work of their team in the league phase of the Europa League, winning 2-1 thanks to a Donyell Malen double in the first half at Villa Park.
Young Boys had one goal disallowed in the second half, a well-timed kick up the arse for Villa with the game starting to drift, but the second time they found the net it did stand. It was a disappointing end with Villa otherwise comfortable.
Here are the ratings:
Emiliano Martínez - 7
Saved well from a shot after a blatant offside that should have been flagged much earlier after quarter of an hour. Tidy enough with the ball at his feet. A quiet night for the goalkeeper until he was beaten in the last minute.
Victor Lindelöf - 7
Villa’s pre-match graphic sold us a dummy, with Lindelöf actually lining up in the middle with Pau Torres and Lamare Bogarde at right-back. Very comfortable getting involved in the passing game in the middle. Passing was simple and efficient, defensive work minimal but handled neatly.
Lamare Bogarde - 6
Shifted into a back three in possession with Ian Maatsen given licence to attack on the left. Had a couple of opportunities to shoot from the edge of the box in the middle of the first half; he had a shot blocked on the first occasion and moved the ball to Evann Guessand on the second. Heavily involved in the goal that made it 1-0.
Pau Torres - 7
Longer passing in behind looked a productive route with Donyell Malen’s pace in the team from the start and some of his passes into feet in midfield were excellent. Substituted with 60 minutes played.
Ian Maatsen - 6
Final decisions in the box weren’t what they should have been but there was no issue with his defensive work ethic. Caught in possession a few times around the edge of the Villa box.
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Youri Tielemans - 9
Named as captain and was twice the player as anyone in the opposing line-up without breaking a sweat. Great first touch and superb pass to send Guessand clear early on. Some incredible drops of the shoulder, nice passing and tenacity without the ball.
Picked up an assist with a pinpoint clipped cross for Malen to make it 1-0. Substituted on the hour mark after a terrific display.
Amadou Onana - 7
Anchored the play in possession and provided vital back-tracking when Young Boys attacked. The opposition were unable to live with his physicality. Picked out a lovely long pass in behind for Malen early in the game.
Worked his socks off without the ball. Booked just after the hour and substituted late.
Evann Guessand - 5
Shot-shy in the sixth minute after a Tielemans through ball. Involved in lots of attacks on the right in the first half but not decisive enough in the final third. Passing lacked polish.
Morgan Rogers - 8
Played almost in a free role at times. Close to an early assist for Malen with a dangerous ball across the face of goal. Quick feet allowed him to keep any loose passes to him alive.
Service into the box was always dangerous but it was a sensational assist from deep for Malen’s second goal that stole the show. Substituted with an hour played.
Jadon Sancho - 5
First noteworthy contribution was a pass out of play but not short of graft in the first period. Willing to drop into the pocket to allow Maatsen to play beyond him on the left. Made his own space for a shot that was saved in the sixth minute of the second half and wasted a good look at goal with ten minutes left.
Donyell Malen - 9
Not the straightforward answer at number 9 but does offer a different dynamic there against weaker opposition. Drew a save from goalkeeper Marvin Keller with a piledriver in the fourth minute but there was much more to come.
Put Villa 1-0 up with a fabulous header in the middle of the first half and 2-0 up with a nerveless finish just before half time. Excellent game. Substituted on the hour.
Substitutes
Emi Buendía (for Rogers, 60) - Ratted from the moment he came on. Produced a delightful scooped pass in behind for Watkins. 6
Ross Barkley (for Tielemans, 60) - Sent Sancho into the left channel with a classy through ball and controlled the play in midfield with Onana. Ripped a low shot just wide with 20 minutes to go. 7
Ollie Watkins (for Malen, 60) - Put in a shift in search of a sorely needed goal. 6
Ezri Konsa (for Torres, 60) - Had next to nothing to do after coming on but was switched-on when needed despite the light workload. 6
Boubacar Kamara (for Onana, 79) - Late substitute. N/A