Aston Villa travelled to Young Boys for their first game in the Champions League, with Unai Emery’s men looking to get off to the perfect start.
The Villans went into this match in strong form in the Premier League, winning three of their first four matches in the competition.
Unai Emery’s men carried that momentum into Europe as Youri Tielemans scored Aston Villa’s first goal in the Champions League as a brilliant set-piece, orchestrated by Austin MacPhee, worked to perfection.
Jacob Ramsey then scored Villa’s second after a calamitous error from the Young Boys defence to put the visitors into cruise control but Emery’s side should have had a third in the first half.
Rio Ferdinand gives verdict on Ollie Watkins handball decision vs Young Boys
Everyone watching this game, particularly Aston Villa fans were left exasperated that Ollie Watkins didn’t score his side’s third of the match.
The 28-year-old thought he’d scored his first Champions League goal after his left-footed effort inside the box was blocked by Tanguy Zoukrou.
Watkins reacted quickly to this piece of defending, as following the ricochet, he shifted the ball onto his devastating right foot and arrowed the ball into the corner.
Unfortunately for the Englishman, he was denied his first goal by VAR as replays showed that the ball deflected onto his arm after hitting the defender.
This was an incredibly harsh decision from the referee and it caused mass outrage across social media and on TNT Sports commentary, with Rio Ferdinand sharing his verdict.
The former Manchester United defender said: “I didn’t think it was, I agree with you guys, I’m a bit mythed about how they came to that decision as well”.
Watkins will have felt disappointed to have been denied his first goal in the competition, especially after being substituted on the hour mark for Jhon Duran.
VAR needs to improve for Aston Villa
Aston Villa started the game against Young Boys slowly as they adjusted to the artificial pitch but once they got into their rhythm, they were able to sweep aside their Swiss opponents.
However, the game could have been even more comfortable if Watkins goal wasn’t wrongly disallowed.
Villa will be hoping that a similar decision isn’t made in the coming games, as it could cost them invaluable points in the league phase.
That is something that can ill-afford to happen for the Birmingham outfit, who have more testing opponents to come in the shape of Bayern Munich and Juventus.
