Aston Villa claimed a late 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig with impressive performances from substitutes Ross Barkley and Jhon Duran. Duran made an impact with a long-distance strike in the second half (52) before Barkley’s 85th-minute winner – but Unai Emery has once again urged patience for the young forward after another strong cameo.
Villa moved up to third place in the standings thanks to Barkley’s late winner, while Leipzig missed their chance to secure their first points in the competition this season and are now unable to advance to the knockout stages.
John McGinn’s goal in the third minute got Villa off to a strong start as he slid the ball past Peter Gulacsi and his team seemed to have full control of the match until Emiliano Martinez made a rare mistake that allowed Leipzig to equalise. Villa’s goalkeeper allowed the ball to bounce in the penalty area, where Lois Openda was waiting, and he helplessly watched as the striker rounded him and scored into an empty net.
Ollie Watkins, who provided the assist for his captain’s first goal, placed the ball in the back of the net but unfortunately, it was disallowed for being offside. This would be his final contribution to the game as he was substituted for Duran during half-time. The Colombian player wasted no time in making his presence felt, scoring a spectacular long-range goal that flew past Gulacsi’s head.
Although Christoph Baumgartner’s equaliser was impressive, it was not enough to secure the hosts their first point in Europe. This opportunity was taken away after Barkley was brought on and scored a speculative goal from a distance, with the ball deflecting wickedly into the net. This crucial goal ensured a crucial victory for Villa. From struggling outside the top eight, they now sit comfortably in third place.
