Aston Villa were back in Europe’s elite competition on Tuesday and they performed like they never left.
Unai Emery watched his team cruise past Young Boys in Switzerland by claiming a 3-0 win, with Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana getting on the scoresheet.
There were also two goals chalked off because of handball, with Ollie Watkins being very unlucky that his goal didn’t stand in the first half.
Despite that, Aston Villa still showcased their class and, after the first 20 minutes, they were in control and the Swiss champions just couldn’t cope with the Premier League outfit.
Jamie Carragher stated that it’s ‘fantastic’ for English football that a team like Villa are in the Champions League.
When Carragher’s old mate, Steven Gerrard, was in charge, the team was looking over their shoulder rather than ahead.
But ever since Emery replaced Gerrard at Villa, the team, from back to front, has transformed and deserved to reach this level.
Two players were lauded by Carragher, with Ramsey dubbed a ‘lovely player’ and how he is a local boy playing for his team in the Champions League.
In truth, that second goal was embarrassing from the opposition’s perspective, with Villa’s pressure and quality being too much for them. Talk less about the defending because it was beyond comical for this level.
And then Onana was lauded by Carragher for having a ‘great start to the season’ following his club-record transfer from Everton in the summer, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (17/09/24 at 10:35 pm).
Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana fire Aston Villa to Champions League win
“He (Tielemans) was fantastic at the weekend, I commentated on that game,” said Carragher. “Then they go 2-0 up with a goal from a local boy, Jacob Ramsey.
“A lovely player. He would have dreamed of playing at this level, really not for Aston Villa actually, it’s such a shock that they are here, but it’s fantastic for football and English football to see different teams in there.
“Onana actually came off at half-time at the weekend against Everton, he has made a great start to his Villa career. I think that’s his third goal of the season in six or seven games. It’s a brilliant night for Aston Villa. I am really pleased for them.”
Aston Villa against Bayern Munich
What a mouthwatering tie for Villa fans to look forward to. It’s fitting that the club’s first home Champions League tie is against the team they beat in 1982.
Bayern Munich are managed by former Burnley manager Vincent Kompany and they opened their European campaign by beating Dinamo Zagreb 9-2.
READ MORE: John McGinn reveals how one ‘tough’ conversation with Unai Emery transformed Aston Villa career
That’s some statement from the German giants, who went trophyless for the first time in ten years last season, and they are now hungry to prove their worth again.
Ex-Tottenham striker Harry Kane netted four goals and he is going to be at the centre of attention given that the national captain will be playing on English soil.
