Six talking points from Fenerbahçe
Men
1 day ago
Aston Villa enjoyed a special night to remember as we triumphed 6-0 over Fenerbahçe in the UEFA Champions League.
Nicolas Jackson and Ross Barkley each bagged a brace after Johan Manzambi opened the scoring, before Tammy Abraham rounded off the night late on to wrap up our first home win of the season in style.
At the other end, there was a first Champions League clean sheet for Zion Suzuki as Unai Emery’s side made it two wins from two in Europe’s elite club competition.
Here’s six talking points from the encounter at Villa Park…
Records Tumble
Records galore were broken on Wednesday night as the history books were rewritten.
So, with just some of those, here goes…
- Villa’s biggest-ever win in major European competition
- Our biggest victory under Unai Emery across all competitions
- Villa are one of two teams to score three first-half goals in both their opening two games of a Champions League campaign, alongside PSG also this season
- After scoring once across our first four games this season (v PSG in the Super Cup), Villa have since scored three or more goals in four of our six matches – no Premier League team have scored more times since the start of the run on September 8 (18 – level with Manchester City)
- Nicolas Jackson is the first player to score in as many as four of his first five Champions League starts since Sebastien Haller in December 2021 (all 5).
- Villa have won 18 of our last 20 home games in major European competition (D1 L1), and are on the joint-longest active winning streak at home in such competitions (11 – level with Freiburg)
Nico On Fire
Nicolas Jackson registered his first brace for the club and deservedly so.
The in-form striker netted twice in the opening 45 minutes, the first goal a well-taken angled drive and the second a fine low strike into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Villa’s No.11 is on fire – scoring for a third successive match to make it five goals this season in eight matches.
It also takes Jackson’s Champions League tally to three this season following his goal at Club Brugge on Matchday One.
You can hear from Jackson here.
Barkley Brace
Ross Barkley also bagged a quickfire double as he found the net twice in four second-half minutes.
The midfielder last found the net in Europe in our pulsating 3-2 victory over Leipzig in December 2024, bagging an 85th-minute winner.
It was Barkley’s first Champions League start in five years and his marked the occasion in style, building on his goal at Coventry City in the Carabao Cup.
Villa have now won each of our last 11 home matches in Europe, while we maintained our 100% record against Fenerbahçe, having won all four meetings without conceding.
You can hear from Barkley here.
Manzambi Magic
Johan Manzambi picked the perfect way to celebrate his 21st birthday as he netted his first goal at Villa Park on his Champions League debut.
The Switzerland international opened the scoring after 12 minutes and treated B6 to his iconic celebration for the first time.
Manzambi’s second goal in claret and blue set the tone for the evening, with the summer signing also brought down for our second-half penalty following another surging run.
His dazzling display earned the Player of the Match award. Happy birthday, Johan!
You can hear from Manzambi here.
Mbaye and Goretzka
Ibrahim Mbaye was handed his first Villa Park start for the Matchday Two encounter.
Having been in Unai Emery’s XI for our Carabao Cup tie away at Coventry City and made three substitute appearances, the two-time Champions League winner enjoyed his maiden start in B6.
And the Senegal international thrived under the lights on the European night, with his surging runs and trickery causing Fenerbahçe all kinds of problems – as well as being involved in our opening goal and claiming an assist for the fifth.
Leon Goretzka, meanwhile, made Villa’s matchday squad for the first time this season.
The summer signing, a Champions League winner with Bayern Munich in 2020, worked his way back to full fitness and appeared as an 83rd-minute substitute – much to the delight of the Villa faithful.
Villa Villan, Tifo and Viking Next Up
Villa supporters enjoyed another special pre-match show.
Fans inside the stadium and those watching all around the world welcomed the return of the ‘Villa Villan’ as an impressive tifo display dropped down in front of the Holte End.
It also marked the return of Champions League football to B6 as Villa, Europa League winners, turn the page to write ‘The Next Chapter’ of ‘Our European Story’.
Our iconic home was a sea of claret and blue as flags waved all around the stadium to welcome the two teams on to the hallowed turf for our encounter under the lights.
The tifo came together with Villa Park’s unique pre-match show across big screens, lights, flames, fireworks and pyrotechnics.
We can’t wait to see what’s in store for next Wednesday’s Champions League encounter against Viking as Matchday Three returns to Villa Park.
You can be there! Secure your seat now and see Villa in European action.
