Yahoo News John Townley's Aston Villa player ratings after heroic 1-0 win over Bayern Munich as 10/10 awarded
Aston Villa have officially announced their return to the European elite by defeating German giants Bayern Munich 1-0 as Jhon Duran came off the bench to score the winner by lobbing Manuel Neuer.
After claiming successive Champions League wins, Villa have ended Bayern’s remarkable unbeaten record in Champions League group stage and league phase fixtures which stood at 41 games before this evening. Indeed, it was Villa manager Unai Emery who inflicted Bayern with their last Champions League group stage defeat back in 2017 with Paris Saint-Germain.
Duran only needed nine minutes to break the deadlock against Bayern after coming on in the 70th minute as he chased Pau Torres' ball and had the audacity to lift it over Neuer, who was stranded in his box.
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Torres thought he had opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when he poked the ball past Neuer after Bayern failed to clear a set-piece. Jacob Ramsey was offside earlier in the move, so VAR overturned the goal.
Moments later, Amadou Onana struck at goal from the edge of the box, but his effort lacked conviction, allowing Neuer to claim the ball with ease. Down the other end, it wasn’t until the 39th minute that Emi Martinez was properly called into action.
Michael Olise, Bayern’s summer signing from Crystal Palace, bent the ball towards the top corner from outside the box, but Martinez managed to tip it over the bar.
READ MORE: 68 Aston Villa pictures of one of Villa Park's greatest nights
Emery elected to start Jaden Philogene ahead of Leon Bailey, but Ramsey suffered an injury in the first half, which meant the Jamaica international played most of the first half. He only lasted until the hour mark before being replaced himself.
Villa have been vulnerable at the break at the start of the season, but you wouldn't have known it judging from their organised and resolute showing against Bayern. The German giants, who scored 30 goals in seven matches in all competitions before heading for Villa Park, couldn't break Emery's side down in the final third despite their dominance on the ball in the second period.
We could have played into tomorrow morning and Martinez wouldn't have been beaten. He came up with two clutch stops to deny Serge Gnabry and then Harry Kane in the final moments.
Player ratings
Emi Martinez
Martinez made a few key saves in the first half, notably denying Olise and Laimer. After denying Gnabry and Kane late on, the Argentine was simply unwilling to be beaten this evening. Faultless. 10*
Ezri Konsa
Konsa didn't give an inch to Kingsley Coman before the France international was pulled off at the break. It was a brilliant showing from Konsa tonight who barely put a foot wrong. 9
Diego Carlos
Carlos has come under criticism at the start of the season, but was much-improved this evening. He read the game well and helped snuff out danger in and around the box. 8
Pau Torres
Torres thought he had opened the scoring for Villa in the first half, but VAR ruled the goal out for an offside. The Spaniard grabbed an assist for Duran and enjoyed his best performance of the season so far. 9
Lucas Digne
Digne put in an excellent delivery at the back post for Watkins in the 15th minute, but Bayern centre-back Kim Min Jae defended well. He kept a lid on Olise and then Sane in the final 30 minutes of the game. 8
Amadou Onana
Onana was excellent in the middle of the park, sweeping up danger and putting his foot in when it mattered. He came off in the 60th minute after it looked like he was playing with a small injury. 8
Youri Tielemans
Tielemans got through plenty of work tonight and was key at the base of Villa's midfield, receiving the ball from the defenders and distributing it higher up the pitch. 8
Jaden Philogene
Philogene was a surprise inclusion in the starting XI this evening as he played ahead of Bailey. It was the winger's first start of the season, but he was practically playing as a right wing-back for the most part as Bayern left-back Alphonso Davies operated like a winger. He then swapped over to the left when Bailey came on and then back over in front of Konsa to finish the game. 8
Morgan Rogers
When Rogers managed to turn to get goal-side, there was no stopping him. His pass selection was often positive and he helped carry Villa up the pitch after going long spells defending. 8
Jacob Ramsey
Like Philogene, Ramsey was also pushed back and forced to work hard out of possession as Bayern took control from the get-go. He was replaced in the 27th minute after appearing to pick up a groin injury. N/A
Ollie Watkins
Watkins had Upamecano's number on the night. He was too quick and strong for the Bayern centre-back, who was lucky not to have been penalised more than he was for fouls on the Villa forward. He got through lots of running off the ball. 8
SUBS
Leon Bailey (for Ramsey, 27'): Bailey doesn't look fully fit at the moment and may well have been dropped to the bench for that reason. But Emery needed him after Ramsey picked up an injury in the first half. The winger managed to break forward to offer support in attacks, but he wasn't fully fit and then came off in the second half. 6
Ross Barkley (for Onana, 60'): Barkley dropped his shoulder a few times and wanted to look for the forward pass at all times. 7
Ian Maatsen (for Bailey, 60'): Maatsen was brilliant on the left flank in front of Digne. He helped add more security on that side of the pitch and also carried possession up the pitch. 6
Jhon Duran (for Watkins, 71'): What a talent! Duran's goalscoring instincts rewarded Villa's strong defensive display as he clipped the ball over Neuer to hand his side three precious points in the league phase table. You couldn't ask for a better super-sub! 9
Subs not used: Gauci, Zych, Nedeljkovic, Cash, Bogarde, Young, Swinkels, Buendia.
GOALS
Aston Villa: Duran (79')
Bayern Munich: N/A
