Aston Villa have extended their remarkable winning run with an impressive 2 to 1 win over Swiss side Basel at the St Jakob-Park. Unai Emery's side have now managed to return eight wins from their last eight games. You have to go back to 1914 and the Great War to find an Aston Villa side that has a longer winning streak as a top-flight side, a sign of how good their current form is.
Emery spoke before the game about how his return to the stadium brought him memories from his last triumph there with Sevilla against Liverpool in 2016 to lift his second Europa League title. But he also spoke of excitement at his current Villa team, who seem to be flying. So much so that many bookies have them at odds on as favourites to lift the trophy this season, sitting at 57% odds. Even Hong Kong operators, who have vast markets and valuable promotions, seem to have faith in the magic of Emery in this competition.
Emery named a much-changed lineup for Villa following their heroic victory against Arsenal at the weekend. Evann Guessand commenced things for Villa, scoring only his second goal for the club since signing in the summer, after 12 minutes. VAR ruled out an equaliser from Basel after a close offside call was made. But the hosts levelled the scoring through Daniliuc, who flicked in a free kick from former Liverpool star Shaqiri’s cross in the thirty-fourth minute. But it was a super sub again who made the difference for Villa. It is the third game running that a substitute has scored the winner for the side, and this time it came from talisman Youri Tielemans. The Belgian came off the bench to gracefully slide the winner past the Basel keeper.
Villa did not have it all their own way and very much had to dig deep in the closing stages of the game. Emery noted post-game that they struggled in the last 10 minutes, but eventually Emery's side ground out the victory.
This win marks a fifth win in the Europa League this season for Aston Villa, who look like they will now comfortably make the last 16 ahead of their remaining games against Fenerbache and Red Bull Salzburg. Their points total as it stands should secure them at least a playoff spot, but another win would cement an automatic knockout position, which is something Emery and his team will be looking for.
Mikel Arteta has described Villa's win against Arsenal at the weekend as “painful," but for those associated with Villa, they will have found this a momentously joyous moment, but definitely a fixture that has taken it out of the team. Emery reflected this in his team choice for this evening, making nine changes to the starting lineup in a bid to rest players and utilise the incredible depth of this Villa team. Only Konsa, Cash, and Onana started from the statement win against Arsenal, whilst star players Watkins, McGinn, and Rogers made cameo appearances from the bench for the Villans.
Villa go to the London Stadium to face West Ham in their next Premier League game. Villa were 2 to 1 winners here last time this game was played, and with only one win in five, West Ham have struggled to really get going this season. However, no game can be taken for granted, and I’m sure Emery and his Villa team will not be resting on their laurels.
