Young Boys vs Aston Villa LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as dominant Villa triumph in Bern
Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa: Unai Emery’s men excelled on their Champions League debut
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Aston Villa made a glorious return to the European flight with a wonderful 3-0 victory against Young Boys in Switzerland.
Playing at the Stadion Wankdorf on an artificial pitch there were come concerns that Villa wouldn’t adapt to the conditions and for the opening 20 minutes the hosts were the better side. Unai Emery’s team did click though and took the lead from a fine set piece.
John McGinn received a short corner and swung a cross over to Youri Tielemans. He controlled it and drilled a low finish into the back of the net for Aston Villa’s first ever Champions League goal.
Two more followed, Jacob Ramsey making the most of a defensive mishap to add a second before Amadou Onana added a third late in the game. It could have been even better for the visitors as Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran, brought into the match as a substitute, both had goals disallowed.
It was a perfect night for the midlands club and they’ll now be determined to reach the knockout rounds.
Relive the Champions League action with our live blog below:
HT Young Boys 0-2 Aston Villa
Half-time! Young Boys 0-2 Aston Villa
45+4 mins: No further goals before the break but it’s still a comfortable lead for Aston Villa who have been superb in the last 20 minutes or so.
It took them a while to settle on the artificial turf but they seem to have sussed it out and have scored two fine goals. More to come in the second half.
NO GOAL! Young Boys 0-2 Aston Villa
45 mins: Watkins’ goal has been ruled out! VAR took a look at it and decided that he handled the ball in the build-up.
Four minutes of added time to play in this half.
GOAL! Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa (Ollie Watkins, 43 mins)
Another one!
Jacob Ramsey and Morgan Rogers link up again on the left side to get the ball up the pitch. It comes across to Ollie Watkins who chests it down and shoots.
The first effort is blocked but the ball comes back to him and he fires it into the back of the net!
Young Boys 0-2 Aston Villa
41 mins: Aston Villa look very confident now. They’ve overcome a tricky start to score two goals and give themselves a strong cushion in this match now.
GOAL! Young Boys 0-2 Aston Villa (Jacob Ramsey, 38 mins)
What has gone on here?
Lucas Digne makes a run into space on the left and receives the ball. He sends it across to Morgan Rogers who tries to find Ollie Watkins in the box.
The pass is intercepted and prodded to Mohamed Camara. He plays it back to his goalkeeper but Watkins gets there first and is taken out.
The referee lets play go on as Jacob Ramsey is first to the loose ball and side foots it into the back of the net!
Young Boys 0-1 Aston Villa
36 mins: Ezri Konsa floats a long ball into the box where it gets nodded down to Morgan Rogers. He shuffles into space and delivers a cross into the six-yard area that gets cleared.
The ball comes to Ebrima Colley who pings a cross field pass up the pitch. The counter attack is a good one and the ball is sent across to Zachary Athekame who messes up the effort at goal.
Young Boys 0-1 Aston Villa
33 mins: Ugrinic swings a corner into the box for Young Boys who seem ever so slightly deflated after conceding the goal. Emi Martinez comes off his line and plucks the ball out of the air.
Young Boys 0-1 Aston Villa
30 mins: Fresh on the back of the goal, Ollie Watkins has a good chance to add a second after making a run in behind the defence. Watkins slightly rushes the effort with the knowledge that the two centre-backs are closing him down.
He pulls the ball wide of the target and Villa know a decent chance has gone begging there.
GOAL! Young Boys 0-1 Aston Villa (Youri Tielemans, 27 mins)
The breakthrough comes for Aston Villa!
The visitors win a corner that gets played short to John McGinn. He swings a cross over to the far side of the box where Youri Tielemans is all alone.
He brings the ball under control then scurries a low effort between the legs of the nearest defender and picks out the far bottom corner!
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