Football

Tottenham Hotspur stormed back from a first-half deficit to thrash Aston Villa 4-1 on Sunday, reigniting their hopes of a top-four finish in the Premier League.After Morgan Rogers gave Villa the lead in the first period, Spurs exploded in the second half with a flurry of goals. Brennan Johnson equalized shortly after the break, setting the stage for Dominic Solanki's heroics.Solanki's delicate dinked finish in the 75th minute put Spurs ahead, and he doubled his tally four minutes later, converting substitute Richarlison's cross. James Maddison added the icing on the cake with a stunning free kick deep into stoppage time.The victory lifts Tottenham to seventh in the table, just two points behind Villa, who missed out on the chance to climb into third spot.Villa, who wore training tops reading "Fuerza Valencia" in solidarity with the victims of the deadly floods in Spain, started brightly but failed to capitalize on their early chances.Spurs, despite the return of captain Son Heung-min from injury, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities in the first half. However, they came out firing after the break, with Johnson's equalizer setting the tone for a dominant second-half performance.Solanki's goals were the result of Tottenham's increased intensity and attacking prowess. The England international showed great composure and skill to put Spurs ahead and then seal the victory.Villa, who had been in good form under Unai Emery, were unable to match Tottenham's second-half surge. They failed to create any real chances and were punished for their defensive lapses.The result is a major boost for Tottenham's top-four hopes. They are now just two points behind Villa and have a game in hand. Villa, on the other hand, will be disappointed to have missed out on the chance to move into the top three.

Aston Villa's resurgence under Unai Emery reached new heights as they soared to the summit of the Champions League table with a resounding 2-0 victory over Bologna. The triumph marked a historic return to the competition for Villa, who last graced the European stage in 1983.McGinn's exquisite free-kick broke the deadlock in the second half, his curling effort finding the far corner beyond the reach of the Bologna goalkeeper. The Scottish midfielder's goal ignited the Villa Park crowd, who witnessed their team's dominance throughout the match.Emery's tactical acumen was evident as he rotated his squad, making four changes without compromising the team's performance. The introduction of Jhon Duran proved decisive, with the Colombian striker netting his sixth goal of the season with a clinical finish.Villa's strength from set-pieces has been a cornerstone of their success under Emery. McGinn's free-kick was a testament to their prowess, while Ezri Konsa's return from injury added further solidity to the defense.The victory extended Villa's winning streak in the Champions League to three games, making them the only team to achieve such a feat this season. The result has instilled a sense of boundless ambition within the squad, with McGinn declaring, "We don't want to stop here."Bologna, on the other hand, have endured a disappointing start to their Champions League campaign, with just one point from their opening three matches. The Italian side has struggled to replicate their impressive form from last season, when they qualified for the competition for the first time in 60 years.Emery's transformative impact on Villa has been remarkable. Since his arrival two years ago, he has guided the club from relegation contenders to European contenders. The Spaniard's ability to blend youth and experience, coupled with his tactical flexibility, has been instrumental in Villa's resurgence.With nine points already secured, Villa are well-positioned to qualify for the playoff round. However, their sights are set on securing a top-eight finish and automatic qualification for the last 16. The meteoric rise of Aston Villa under Emery shows no signs of slowing down, and the future holds endless possibilities for the ambitious Midlands club.

Real Madrid staged a remarkable comeback to defeat Borussia Dortmund 5-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, with Vinicius Junior scoring a hat-trick. Aston Villa maintained their perfect record to go top of the table.Vinicius struck three times in the second half as Madrid bounced back from two goals down to inflict further anguish on Dortmund, in a repeat of last season's final, which Real Madrid won 2-0.First-half goals in quick succession by Donyell Malen and Jamie Gittens had given Dortmund a two-goal lead at half-time. "Things were very quiet when we got to the dressing room 2-0 down at halftime," Vinicius (24) told Movistar. "But we listened to the boss (coach Carlo Ancelotti) and agreed one simple thing: if we can score first then we'll fight back and win once again."The 15-times champions duly struck back early in the second period via Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius, before Lucas Vazquez sent Real ahead and the Brazilian netted two more inside the final 10 minutes. After the surprise defeat at Lille last time out, Madrid's hunt for a record-extending 16th Champions League crown is back on track as they move to ninth in the standings, on six points.Malen swept the Germans into the lead on the half-hour following a deft pass from Serhou Guirassy that split open the defence. Madrid defender Eder Militao was then left beating the turf in frustration four minutes later when Gittens flew in at the back post to double Dortmund's lead.Rudiger halved the deficit with a powerful header from a Kylian Mbappe cross on 60 minutes. Vinicius equalised two minutes later by tucking away a stray ball, the goal being awarded by VAR after Mbappe was shown to have been onside in the build-up.A rare Dortmund foray forward resulted in a fine Thibaut Courtois save, with the holders then racing straight down the other end and Vazquez lashing home on 83 minutes. Vinicius then completed his hat-trick in the 86th and 93rd minutes, his second coming after a lung-busting sprint down the line from inside his own half.Arsenal emerged 1-0 winners at home to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk thanks to an own-goal from the visitors' goalkeeper. Dmytro Riznyk could only grasp at thin air after Gabriel Martinelli had cut in from the left and smacked the ball against the near post before it rebounded back off the goalie and over the line. Leandro Trossard missed a penalty near the end, but Arsenal had already done enough to secure their second win of the tournament.Table-topping Villa Fellow Premier League side Aston Villa are enjoying an excellent return to European football's top table after 41 years as they won their third match in three Champions League outings this term with a 2-0 victory against Bologna. "We are playing seriously, we are playing focussed, responsible and the team is progressing and mature in everything," manager Unai Emery told TNT Sports. John McGinn opened the scoring at Villa Park 10 minutes after the interval and Jhon Duran wrapped up the points in the 64th minute, sending Emery's side to the top of the league phase table on nine points with zero goals conceded.Stuttgart sank Juventus 1-0 in Turin, thanks to a stoppage-time winner by El Bilal Toure. The Italians were reduced to 10 men when Danilo picked up a second yellow while conceding a penalty in the 84th minute. Mattia Perin looked to have saved his side when he stopped the resulting spot-kick from Enzo Millot, but Toure slammed home in the 92nd minute for Stuttgart.PSV Eindhoven surprised Paris Saint-Germain with a Noa Lang goal against the run of play in the first period, before Achraf Hakimi hit back on 55 minutes to ensure the points were shared. AC Milan beat 10-men Club Brugge at the San Siro with Christian Pulisic and a Tijjani Reijnders brace giving the Italians a 3-1 victory. Monaco won 5-1 at home to Red Star Belgrade, while Sporting Lisbon beat Sturm Graz 2-0 in Austria. Last season's Spanish league surprise-packages Girona picked up their first points in the competition with a 2-0 win at home to Slovan Bratislava.On Wednesday (October 23, 2024), five-time winners Barcelona host six-time champions Bayern Munich and Liverpool visit RB Leipzig.

Jhon Duran, the Colombian sensation who has taken the Premier League by storm, has committed his long-term future to Aston Villa by signing a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2030. The 20-year-old striker has been a revelation since joining Villa from Chicago Fire in January 2023, scoring six goals in just 24 appearances, including the crucial winner against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.Duran's impressive performances have attracted interest from several top clubs, including West Ham, who reportedly agreed personal terms with the player during the summer transfer window. However, Villa have managed to fend off their rivals and secure the services of one of the most promising young talents in world football.The new contract is a testament to Duran's rapid rise and the belief that Villa have in his potential. Despite starting just once in all competitions this season, Duran has made a significant impact, scoring vital goals and showcasing his exceptional talent.Villa manager Unai Emery has been full of praise for Duran, describing his potential as "huge." Emery has also highlighted the importance of managing Duran's impatience and helping him develop both as a player and a person.With Duran now tied down to a long-term contract, Villa can focus on building a team around the young striker. The club's ambitious plans include challenging for a top-four finish in the Premier League and making a deep run in the Champions League. Duran's goalscoring prowess and ability to create chances for his teammates will be crucial to Villa's success.The Colombian international has already shown that he has the quality to compete at the highest level. His pace, power, and clinical finishing make him a dangerous threat to any defense. With the support of Villa and the guidance of Emery, Duran has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the world.

Manchester United's dismal run continued on Sunday as they were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Aston Villa at Villa Park. The result extended United's winless streak to five games and piled further pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.Despite dominating possession, United failed to create clear-cut chances throughout the match. Bruno Fernandes came closest to breaking the deadlock with a free-kick that rattled the crossbar in the second half. However, the Red Devils have now failed to score in their last three Premier League outings.Ten Hag made several changes to his starting lineup, dropping Lisandro Martinez and Matthijs de Ligt in favor of Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans. The Dutchman also replaced Marcus Rashford at halftime, a decision that raised eyebrows given Rashford's impressive performance in the first half.Villa, who had stunned Bayern Munich in midweek, were also unable to find their rhythm. They had a few half-chances but lacked the cutting edge to trouble United's defense.The draw leaves United languishing in 14th place in the Premier League table, having won just two of their opening seven games. Villa, meanwhile, missed the opportunity to move into the top four and remain in fifth place.Ten Hag's position is now under intense scrutiny. The club's hierarchy must decide whether to give him more time or make a change during the upcoming international break.

Aston Villa, the English Premier League club, is set to host German giants Bayern Munich in a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League clash on Wednesday, October 3. The match will mark Villa's return to the top tier of European football after a 41-year absence.Villa's European adventure began with a resounding 3-0 victory over Swiss side Young Boys two weeks ago. However, the upcoming match against Bayern Munich evokes memories of the club's greatest triumph: the 1982 European Cup final victory over the same opponents.Villa manager Unai Emery is hoping his team can channel the spirit of that historic night and pull off an upset against the Bundesliga champions. Bayern Munich, led by star striker Robert Lewandowski, will be a formidable opponent, but Villa will be buoyed by the support of their home crowd at Villa Park.The match will be a clash of styles, with Villa's attacking flair likely to be tested by Bayern's renowned defensive solidity. Villa will need to be clinical in front of goal and minimize their mistakes to have a chance of victory.The match will be telecast live on the Sony Sports Network in India at 12:30 AM IST on Thursday, October 3. It will also be streamed live on SonyLiv.

Aston Villa's pursuit of a top-two finish in the Premier League suffered a setback as they were held to a 2-2 draw by newly promoted Ipswich Town at Portman Road. Liam Delap's brace canceled out goals from Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins, leaving Unai Emery's side frustrated.Villa started brightly and took the lead through Rogers in the 15th minute, but Delap equalized for Ipswich just eight minutes later. Watkins restored Villa's advantage in the 32nd minute, but Delap struck again in the 72nd minute to earn Ipswich a deserved point.The result leaves Villa in fifth place, two points behind leaders Liverpool, while Ipswich remain in the relegation zone but have shown signs of improvement under Kieran McKenna.Villa dominated the first half, controlling possession and creating several chances. However, they were unable to maintain their momentum after the break, and Ipswich grew into the game.Delap, a 21-year-old striker signed from Manchester City in the summer, was a constant threat to the Villa defense. His pace and finishing ability caused problems throughout the match, and he deservedly earned his side a point.Villa will be disappointed not to have taken all three points, but they will have to quickly regroup for their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Ipswich, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their performance and will hope to build on it in their upcoming matches.

Arsenal's title aspirations suffered a setback in a 1-1 draw with Brighton, while Aston Villa secured a 2-1 victory at Leicester.Arsenal's Kai Havertz opened the scoring, but Brighton's Joao Pedro equalized after Declan Rice's controversial red card. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed outrage over the decision, calling it "inconsistent."Villa bounced back from their loss to Arsenal with a win at Leicester. Amadou Onana and Jhon Duran scored for Villa, while Facundo Buonanotte netted for Leicester.Brentford eased past Southampton 3-1, with Bryan Mbeumo scoring twice. Everton suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth, who rallied from 2-0 down in the final minutes.Ipswich earned their first Premier League point in 22 years with a 1-1 draw against Fulham. Nottingham Forest and Wolves also drew 1-1.Manchester United will host Liverpool in the weekend's marquee fixture at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Arsenal's title aspirations received a significant boost as they secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Aston Villa at Villa Park. The Gunners, who narrowly missed out on the Premier League crown last season, displayed resilience and determination to overcome a stubborn Villa side.Leandro Trossard, a recent acquisition from Brighton, proved to be the catalyst for Arsenal's triumph. Introduced as a substitute in the second half, Trossard made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch just 10 minutes after entering the fray. His composed finish from close range broke the deadlock and gave Arsenal the impetus they needed.Thomas Partey sealed the victory in the 77th minute with a low strike that found its way past Emiliano Martinez, the Villa goalkeeper who had an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration. Martinez's error allowed Partey's shot to trickle through his legs, handing Arsenal a crucial three points.Arsenal's victory was particularly satisfying given their disappointing results against Villa last season. The Gunners lost both encounters, including a costly defeat in the closing weeks of the campaign that dealt a blow to their title hopes.Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, praised his team's character and ability to adapt to Villa's defensive approach. "We had to change momentum," Arteta said. "We had a 10-minute gap when we didn't get the rhythm and they were on top. They had the big chance and David Raya made an unbelievable save. It was the magic moment of the game."Unai Emery, the Villa manager, acknowledged his team's shortcomings but remained optimistic about their prospects. "We had our chance to score and had even better chances than them," Emery said. "If we score one goal then maybe we win the match. There's still work to do. I accept the result because we are doing our way and trying to improve. The players will stay calm."Arsenal's victory moves them to the top of the Premier League table, while Villa remains in 13th place. The Gunners will face Fulham in their next match, while Villa will travel to Crystal Palace.