Aston Villa secured a crucial win in Basel to keep their European hopes alive, with midfielder Youri Tielemans playing the hero role in a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
The Belgian's classy first-time finish sealed the win, just eight minutes after Evann Guessand had given Aston Villa the lead. The goal represented a significant one, as it marked a 14th success in their last 16 matches and gave Villa a boost ahead of their top-four push in the Premier League.
Manager Unai Emery was ecstatic with his team's performance, saying they couldn't stop now that they were on a roll. "The Europa League is very important for us," he explained. "We want to be favorites, and it depends if we are playing consistently and getting into the top eight. This competition is very difficult, but of course we are motivated, focused and we want to enjoy every moment."
Villa's win marked a fifth success from six matches, and they remain in third place on 15 points, just five behind leaders Lyon and Red Star Belgrade. The victory also sparked hopes that the team could overcome their recent struggles.
Despite struggling in the first half, Villa's bench players made all the difference when Emery introduced Tielemans at halftime. The Belgian's goal gave Villa a deserved lead, and although Basel equalized through Flavius Daniliuc, Tielemans sealed the win with his classy finish just minutes later.
Villa's victory was a significant one, not least due to their impressive home form in the Premier League. They have lost just twice at Villa Park since August 2024, which has helped fuel their surge up the table.
Emery will be delighted with his team's performance and the momentum they've gained ahead of their next match against West Ham on Sunday. The manager knows that there is a balance to strike between this competition and the league, but for now, he can bask in the glory of another important win.
The Belgian's classy first-time finish sealed the win, just eight minutes after Evann Guessand had given Aston Villa the lead. The goal represented a significant one, as it marked a 14th success in their last 16 matches and gave Villa a boost ahead of their top-four push in the Premier League.
Manager Unai Emery was ecstatic with his team's performance, saying they couldn't stop now that they were on a roll. "The Europa League is very important for us," he explained. "We want to be favorites, and it depends if we are playing consistently and getting into the top eight. This competition is very difficult, but of course we are motivated, focused and we want to enjoy every moment."
Villa's win marked a fifth success from six matches, and they remain in third place on 15 points, just five behind leaders Lyon and Red Star Belgrade. The victory also sparked hopes that the team could overcome their recent struggles.
Despite struggling in the first half, Villa's bench players made all the difference when Emery introduced Tielemans at halftime. The Belgian's goal gave Villa a deserved lead, and although Basel equalized through Flavius Daniliuc, Tielemans sealed the win with his classy finish just minutes later.
Villa's victory was a significant one, not least due to their impressive home form in the Premier League. They have lost just twice at Villa Park since August 2024, which has helped fuel their surge up the table.
Emery will be delighted with his team's performance and the momentum they've gained ahead of their next match against West Ham on Sunday. The manager knows that there is a balance to strike between this competition and the league, but for now, he can bask in the glory of another important win.
Just heard Aston Villa won 2-1 vs Basel. Not bad, I guess 
Still not out of the woods though, they're still like 5 points behind those Lyon and Red Star Belg guys 
And let's be real, we all know how it ends for teams in mid-table 
. Still, credit to Emery for getting the win and keeping Villa in contention for the top four. But we'll see how long this momentum lasts 
.
I'm low-key thrilled for Aston Villa right now! Their win in Basel was super crucial and I love how they bounced back from struggling in the first half 
. Youri Tielemans is literally a superhero 
️, his goal sealed the deal and gave the team the momentum they needed. And I gotta say, Unai Emery's passion for this Europa League run is infectious 
- he's got his team pumped up and ready to take on the top eight! The fact that they've won five out of six matches now is giving me serious hopes for their Premier League push too 
15 points in third place might seem like a lot, but considering Lyon and Red Star Belgrade are at the top, it's clear Villa are a force to be reckoned with 
. Now, let's see how they can keep this momentum going against West Ham on Sunday... fingers crossed! 
I think Emery's tactics were spot on, making subs at halftime and bringing in Tielemans was a masterstroke. That guy's goal was class! 
And now they're looking up at Lyon and Red Star in the Europa League table... they've really got to keep this momentum going if they want to push for that top four spot in the Premier League. 
Aston Villa's win in Basel was like a breath of fresh air! They were struggling lately, but this 2-1 victory over Basel has given them a much-needed boost 
. Youri Tielemans is literally a hero on the pitch right now 
, he's definitely one happy manager! The Europa League win is huge for Villa, especially with their Premier League push 
️ right now! they've got that momentum going and it's huge for their top-four push in the premier league 
️ i mean, who wouldn't want to play at villa park with the electric atmosphere 
gotta give props to tielemans tho 
. With their home form being so strong, I think Villa are in great position to push for those top-four spots in the Premier League 
I think Unai Emery's got a good chance of leading Villa to the top four in the Premier League. Their form at home has been amazing, and if they keep this up, we might see them making some noise in the league. The Europa League win is definitely a confidence booster for the team 
!
, like they're gonna keep it up all season... they've been inconsistent as heck, remember when they lost 4-0 to Man United? 
anyway, Emery's just trying to manage expectations, but we know how that works out 
and Emery's got to be stoked with his team's performance, been a while since they've gotten on a roll like this 
. gotta keep the momentum going though, next match against West Ham won't be an easy one 
anyway Basel gave it their all but villa took the win and now they're just 5 points behind leaders lyon that's some serious pressure on emery to keep his team firing 
He's like a magician on the field, scoring those goals like it's nothing 
congrats to the lads!
! The manager's positivity is infectious too, Emery seems like a great guy who just wants his team to have fun and enjoy the moment 
. emery's comments are so true tho, they're on fire right now and their home form is insane 