Aston Villa outclass Young Boys on perfect Champions League return

Aston Villa marked their return to the top level of European club competition with a dominant 3-0 victory in their UEFA Champions League opener against Swiss side BSC Young Boys.

Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana were all on target at the Wankdorf Stadium, while Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran had strikes ruled out for handball.

Young Boys enjoyed the best of the early action and threatened to break the deadlock through efforts from Ebrima Colley, but it was Villa who drew first blood after a well-worked corner routine.

John McGinn picked up Lucas Digne’s short set-piece and curled a beautiful, deep cross towards the back post, where a totally unmarked Tielemans plucked the ball out of the air before firing a strike into the bottom corner for Villa’s first goal in the top tier of European competition for 42 years.

Ramsey doubled Villa’s lead after some calamitous defending from Young Boys which saw goalkeeper David von Ballmoos take out Watkins in the penalty area. Before referee Georgi Kabakov could point to the spot, Ramsey steered the loose ball into the bottom corner.

After two disallowed goals, Onana finally made sure of the three points and the perfect start to Villa’s Champions League campaign with a sweet strike from 25 yards out, which nestled in the bottom left corner for his third goal of the season.

Qualifying for the Champions League means rubbing shoulders with some of the best teams and players in the world. While that is a mouthwatering prospect for a club like Villa who have been away from that setting for over four decades, a result like Tuesday’s against a team like Young Boys was the perfect way to ease back into life at the top table.

Unai Emery’s side needed to battle the elements in the first half on Young Boys’ all-weather pitch, but once they shook off some early pressure from the hosts they showed they were far superior to their Swiss counterparts.

Watkins was unlucky not to back up his brace at the weekend with a goal, but strikes from Tielemans and Ramsey and that thunderous effort from Onana will give The Villans all the confidence in the world heading into matchday two, where they welcome European giants Bayern Munich to Villa Park.

The 22-year-old has probably been Villa’s most impressive player throughout the opening five games of the season and he took to life in the Champions League like a duck to water, as he glided effortlessly around the sketchy pitch at the Wankdorf Satdium.

He controlled much of Villa’s attacking play and every time took the ball in his stride, looking to combine with the likes of Ramsey and Watkins and make things happen for the visitors.

Tielmans deserves an honourable mention for his goal and assists on the night, but Rogers – who created the most chances in the game (4) – was excellent on his debut in the competition and continued to be a real shining light for Villa.

Young Boys: Von Ballmoos 5, Athekame 5, Zoukrou 6, Camera 6, Hadjam 7, Niasse 6, Lauper 6, Monteiro 6, Ugrinic 7, Colley 6, Ganvoula 6. Subs: Conte 5, Males N/A, Virginius 5, Itten N/A, Elia 5

Aston Villa: Martinez 8, Digne 7, Konsa 7, Torres 7, Bogarde 6, McGinn 8, Onana 8, Tielemans 8, Ramsey 8, Rogers 9, Watkins 7. Subs: Carlos 6, Maatsen N/A, Barkley N/A, Buendia N/A, Duran 6, Bailey

12’ – BIG SAVE FROM MARTINEZ! Ebrima Colley sends a low effort on target which Martinez beats away before Ugrinic sends the follow up wide. A warning sign for Villa, who are still trying to get used to the pitch. Young Boys have had the better start.

22’ – YOUNG BOYS COME CLOSE TO AN OPENER! Colley drives down the far touchline on Villa’s left flank, cuts inside on his right foot and sends a rocket towards goal from long-range which glides inches over the bar.

27’ – GOAL! YOUNG BOYS 0-1 ASTON VILLA (TIELEMANS): Villa are up and running! The visitors take a short corner to McGinn who swings a deep cross to the back post where Tielemans is totally unmarked, he takes a great touch before firing a low shot into the bottom left corner. Villa lead in the Champions League!

30’ – WATKINS DRAGS WIDE! The striker is through on goal but slows his run as he is caught up by the chasing Young Boys defenders before he drags a shot well wide of the post. A big chance to double their lead after an uncomfortable start!

38’ – GOAL! YOUNG BOYS 0-2 ASTON VILLA (RAMSEY): Villa double their lead with a calamitus goal! Rogers sends in a weak cross which Young Boys can’t get clear and Watkins pounces, tries to take the ball around the goalkeeper but is hauled down. Just as referee Georgi Kabakov is about to blow his whistle for a penalty, Ramsey picks up the loose ball and slots it home.

43’ – GOAL! YOUNG BOYS 0-3 ASTON VILLA (WATKINS): Watkins adds a third and Villa are flying! Rogers and Ramsey combine on the left before the latter squares the ball to Watkins, who sees his first shot blocked but hammers the rebound past the goalkeeper.

45’ – NO GOAL – WATKINS HANDBALL – The ball takes the slightest of touches off Watkins’ hand before he strikes the rebound so it won’t count. Harsh!

70’ – MARTINEZ CALLED INTO ACTION! Villa substitute Carlos gives the ball away in his own box and Silvere Ganvoula capitalises on the loose ball before curling an effort goal-bound, whihc Martinez saves well to protect the clean sheet.

78’ – GOAL! YOUNG BOYS 0-3 ASTON VILLA (DURAN): Duran steers in a third for Villa and that should be game over! Ramsey collects the ball on the left and tees up Duran on the edge of the box, who just passes the ball into the bottom left corner.

80’ – NO GOAL – ONANA HANDBALL – There is going to be another VAR check on this goal, it looks as though Onana handballed it in the build-up. It looks pretty conclusive but the referee has been sent to the monitor. As expected, it has been ruled out and it remains 2-0.

86’ – GOAL! YOUNG BOYS 0-3 ASTON VILLA (ONANA): Villa put the ball in the net for the fifth time and surely this one will count for a third! Onana slams the ball home from 25 yards out, steering the ball into the bottom left corner for 3-0. Game over!

• Lamare Bogarde is the third-youngest Dutchman to start a Champions League game for an English club (20 years, 256 days), only behind Jeffrey Bruma (19y, 10d) and Patrick van Aanholt (20y, 86d) in the same game for Chelsea in November 2010. (Opta)
• With an average age of 25 years and 20 days, this is Young Boys’ youngest ever starting XI in a UEFA Champions League match. (Opta)