BIRMINGHAM, England – Aston Villa is off to an exceptional start in their inaugural Champions League campaign, having achieved three consecutive victories without conceding a single goal, putting them at the summit of the league with a perfect point tally.
Villa’s latest triumph came with a 2-0 victory against Bologna at home, solidifying their flawless run in Europe’s premier club tournament since 1983, when they were participants in what was then known as the European Cup, a title they clinched in 1982.
Captain John McGinn, who scored in the match against Bologna at a vibrant Villa Park, expressed pride in the team’s development: “What we are building here is amazing,” he said.
The team’s journey began with a 3-0 victory over Young Boys, a Swiss opponent they faced on their first matchday. Following that, Villa continued their winning streak with a narrow 1-0 win against the illustrious Bayern Munich, making it an impressive debut in the revamped competition.
Currently, halfway through the initial league matches, Aston Villa stands at the top spot with a perfect nine points, outpacing all other teams.
Manager Unai Emery, who took the helm two years ago when the team was teetering just above the relegation zone, praised the squad’s focus and maturity. “We are playing seriously, we are playing focused, responsible and the team is progressing and mature in everything,” he stated.
A standout player this season has been Jhon Duran, the young Colombian international who is reveling in a breakout year at Aston Villa. He received a rare starting position against Bologna, edging out regular starter Ollie Watkins, and scored a pivotal goal in the 64th minute, turning in a volley from a cross delivered by Morgan Rogers just before he was set to be substituted.
Watkins, who was waiting to come on, offered applause as Duran celebrated his goal. The young striker has now netted seven goals this season in just 12 appearances, mainly coming off the bench, including a spectacular long-range effort that clinched victory against Bayern.
Emery shared a lighthearted moment regarding Duran’s goal, saying, “When I was watching that I was thinking of changing him, he accelerated and scored a goal. It was fantastic. He was asking for more (time) because he was thinking he could score more.”