Jhon Duran scored a stunning goal off the bench once again to deliver a famous Champions League victory over Bayern Munich on a big night at Villa Park.
Villa thought they had taken the lead in the 22nd minute when Pau Torres poked home only for VAR to rule Jacob Ramsey had strayed offside in the build-up.
The game was the first in this tournament to be played at Villa Park in 41 years and was also a repeat of the 1982 European Cup final that Villa won.
Bayern dominated possession at times and had good chances themselves with Emi Martinez at his best to deny Harry Kane but it was Duran who again showcased the talent that has led team-mates to say he “can be one of the best strikers in the world”.
Here Jacob Tanswell, Oliver Kay and Liam Tharme analyse the game.
How did Duran score from there?
Duran is arguably the best super-sub in Europe. And on Villa Park’s biggest night in decades and in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, he was the difference-maker again.
Duran was introduced in the 69th minute after Ollie Watkins’ battle with Upamecano had run its course. Emery recognised that with Duran’s pace and power, freshness might offer the point of difference.
The goal itself was a mess from a defensive standpoint but a result of Bayern’s defenders being content to follow Villa’s attackers and, in turn, be dragged out of shape.
Emiliano Martinez started off the move quickly before Pau Torres played a whipped left-footed pass into the channel where Duran was ahead of Upamecano.
As the ball bounced towards him, the Colombia international had one look up to spot how far advanced Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was.
And while he had little time to set himself, he epitomised his confidence by backing himself to lob Neuer, who was stranded outside of his box and nowhere.
Duran’s record off the bench in all competitions now reads nine goals and 38 shots from an xG of 4.55 — effectively finishing twice as well as the average striker.
Jacob Tanswell
Did Watkins soften up Upamecano?
Bayern’s aggressive, man-for-man pressing took one major risk: they were leaving Watkins isolated against Upamecano.
Vincent Kompany clearly felt there were enough upsides, being able to stifle Villa’s central-focused build-up and dominating possession (65 per cent in the first-half).
However the fatal flaw in the scheme was consistently exposed in the first-half. Villa’s early counter-attacking play struggled to materialise, often picking the wrong pass after a regain or executing it poorly. It took them 15 minutes, but they found their rhythm and the passes to Watkins started to click.
On the first occasion where Watkins was in a footrace against Upamecano, with the France International the only defender between him and the goal, they got their legs in a tangle and both hit the floor. Watkins had him booked later in the half when he dropped in as Villa built up, then spun in-behind and Upamecano pulled him over.
Kompany had spoken of Villa’s “threat on the counter and the runs they want to make in behind” before the game, listing it as the reason for their success last season.
It took them 80 minutes, and the substitution of Duran for Watkins, but Villa finally made the most of Upamecano being on a yellow card. He’d made some risky but clean and aggressive touch-tight tackles when Watkins dropped in and received passes to feet. With a fresh Duran on, Villa could double-down on going in-behind, and Duran’s freedom to lob Neuer owed to Upamecano being booked and unable to dive in.
Liam Tharme
How loud was Villa Park?
There are venues where the Champions League anthem is drowned out by boos. Not Villa Park. Aston Villa’s supporters were so pumped up — so excited to hear it inside their stadium at last — that they belted out the last words, “THE CHAMPIONS!”, the way some of the Italian fans do.
There were fireworks too, adding to the sense of occasion, but a party atmosphere gave way to a certain nervous tension once the action started and Bayern enjoyed long spells of possession, undeterred by the enquiries from the Holte End, where the home fans asked, “Who the f***ing hell are you?”
By the end of the evening, the atmosphere had changed completely to one of celebration. It called to mind some of the great nights at Villa Park against Anderlecht and Juventus in the 1980s and Inter Milan in the 1990s. Bayern’s supporters will not forget the deafening roar that greeted Duran’s goal. Villa Park was back on the European football map and it felt so right.
Oliver Kay
Why was Torres’ goal ruled out?
Villa Park celebrated wildly after Pau Torres finished smartly in the 22nd minute to put the home side ahead only for it to be ruled out after a VAR check.
While there was nothing wrong with Torres’ poked close-range finish, the video official spotted that Jacob Ramsey (41) was offside from the initial long free-kick.
Play was initially allowed to continue and the 23-year-old eventually chased the ball down to keep it in play before it was worked back into the box for Torres eventually to finish, only to have his celebrations cut short.
Why did Bayern’s attacking talents fail to fire?
Can any club in Europe rival Bayern Munich’s attacking options? Real Madrid for quality, perhaps, but not in terms of strength of depth.
Bayern could never quite find the right combination tonight, though. Vincent Kompany started with Serge Gnabry, Michael Oliseh and Kingsley Coman behind Harry Kane before turning to Jamal Musiala at half-time and Leroy Sane midway through the second half. Bayern dominated possession and frequently enjoyed spells of pressure, but chances were scarce until stoppage time, when Gnabry missed a sitter and Kane saw a free kick deflected wide and a header brilliantly saved by Emi Martinez.
Villa defended superbly, responding to Emery’s call for better concentration, but an off-night for Bayern’s forward line might focus minds in Munich following their free-scoring start to the season.
They scored 29 goals in their first six games of the season in all competitions, but the last two games, at home to Bayer Leverkusen and away to Villa, have seen a lack of penetration — exacerbated in this case by the manner in which Duran punished Upamecano for the type of minor lapse that always seemed Villa’s most likely route to victory.
Oliver Kay
How was Philogene’s first start?
There was only one surprise in Aston Villa’s starting XI — Jaden Philogene replacing Leon Bailey. Philogene was yet to start a game since rejoining Villa from Hull City in the summer.
Philogene was tasked with offering support to Ezri Konsa down Villa’s right, which was an arduous challenge for a 20-year-old who had only played regular football in the Championship to this point. Bayern would station their full-backs high and wide, while Kingsley Coman would drift into pockets in the left channel and along with Michael Olise drifting over, Bayern intended to create a three versus two against Philogene and Konsa down that side.
In the early stages, Philogene looked visibly unsure of who to track — particularly when the ball was on the opposite side, often being either too deep and replicating a right-back or too high. Villa had just 34 per cent possession in the first half, meaning Philogene’s role was mainly without the ball.
He did, however, look more comfortable after switching flanks, owing to Jacob Ramsey midway through the first half. Philogene was secure with the ball and combined well with Lucas Digne but had very few one-on-one opportunities against Bayern right-back Konrad Laimer, attempting just one dribble before the break and remained focused on a disciplined role in the second half, even switching back to the right on the hour mark.
While his performance was not one of his typical flair, he carried out the functional remit Emery desired.
Jacob Tanswell
(Top photo: James Baylis – AMA/Getty Images)
