Aston Villa continue their excellent run of form as they topped FC Basel 2-1 in the Europa League. claiming all three points despite being outplayed on the underlying numbers in Thursday’s Europa League clash.
E. Guessand opened the scoring in the 12th minute, giving the visitors an early advantage that set the tone for their resilient performance. However, Matty Cash picked up a yellow card five minutes later, leading to his halftime substitution as Villa managed the game carefully.
The match turned dramatic in the 29th minute when Leo Leroy thought he’d equalized for Basel, only for VAR to controversially cancel the goal. The Swiss side’s persistence paid off shortly after, with F. Daniliuc leveling proceedings in the 34th minute. Emiliano BuendÃa collected a yellow card a minute later as tensions rose.
Villa regained control early in the second half when Y. Tielemans struck what proved to be the winner in the 53rd minute. Manager Unai Emery then orchestrated wholesale changes, bringing on J. Sancho, replacing BuendÃa and A. Onana in the 64th minute, before introducing D. Malen late on.
Basel dominated the statistical battle, registering a superior 0.88 xG compared to Villa’s modest 0.47, while firing 11 shots to the visitors’ seven. X. Shaqiri was introduced in the 62nd minute to spark the home attack, with A. Bacanin and B. Traore following, but Basel couldn’t break through Villa’s increasingly defensive setup.
The closing stages became scrappy, with yellow cards shown to Leo Leroy, Philip Otele, Ezri Konsa, and John McGinn. Despite controlling just 42.8% possession, Basel couldn’t convert their territorial advantage, while Villa’s clinical finishing and three crucial saves secured a professional away victory that continues their impressive European campaign.
