RB Leipzig vs Aston Villa Report
Scorers: Openda 27’, Baumgartner 62’; McGinn 3’, Duran 52’, Barkley 85’
Aston Villa reignited their UEFA Champions League (UCL) campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over RB Leipzig at the Red Bull Arena.
The result not only ends Villa’s four-match away losing streak but also sends Leipzig crashing out of the competition after a record sixth successive UCL defeat.
Early Setback for Leipzig
With their UCL hopes hanging by a thread, Leipzig began the match with urgency, as Antonio Nusa threaded a through ball to Benjamin Šeško inside the opening minute. However, the Slovenian forward failed to capitalise, blazing his shot high and wide.
Villa took advantage of Leipzig’s wastefulness almost immediately. In just the third minute, a well-worked move saw Matty Cash whip in a pinpoint cross from the right flank.
Ollie Watkins smartly nodded the ball down to an unmarked John McGinn, who slotted past Péter Gulácsi with composure to give the visitors an early lead.
Villa in Control, but Leipzig Respond
Unai Emery’s men dictated proceedings, dominating possession and creating numerous chances. Watkins and Youri Tielemans came close to doubling the lead but failed to convert promising openings.
Despite Villa’s dominance, an error from Emiliano Martínez gifted Leipzig a lifeline. A long ball from Nicolas Seiwald seemed routine for the Villa goalkeeper to claim, but his hesitation allowed Loïs Openda to pounce and score his first UCL goal of the season.
Jhon Durán’s Impact
Villa needed a response, and Emery introduced Jhon Durán to replace an off-form Watkins. The Colombian striker wasted no time, curling an audacious 25-yard strike over Gulácsi to restore Villa’s advantage just seven minutes after coming on.
Durán found the net again shortly after but was denied by an offside call against Matty Cash in the buildup.
This moment of reprieve kept Leipzig alive, and they made the most of it, leveling the match through Christoph Baumgartner. Openda, pivotal throughout the game, held off Villa’s defenders before crossing for Baumgartner, who expertly curled his shot into the far corner.
Late Drama
Leipzig had an opportunity to secure victory late on when Openda intercepted a poor square pass from Pau Torres, but the Belgian forward squandered the chance.
That miss proved costly, as Villa struck the decisive blow in the dying moments. Substitute Ross Barkley unleashed a speculative shot from the edge of the box, which deflected off Lukas Klostermann and wrong-footed Gulácsi, sealing a vital win for the visitors.
What’s Next?
Villa will look to build on this momentum as they turn their attention back to domestic and European fixtures, with Emery undoubtedly aiming for greater defensive solidity.
Leipzig, on the other hand, must regroup quickly to salvage their Bundesliga campaign as their European journey comes to an end.
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