On the final day of the UEFA Europa League league phase, AstonVilla overturned a 2-0 deficit against Salzburg and won 3-2.One of the great protagonists of the match was Emiliano Martínez, who stood out with several important saves.It is worth noting that the Villains arrived at the Villa Park clash with qualification to the round of 16 of the competition assured.Argentine Emiliano Buendía started and provided an assist for the local team.
Faced with a context in which Unai Emery used an alternative team in the Birmingham cast, the Austrian cast managed to impose the playing conditions in the first stage, although they encountered an imperial Draw Martínez.The most spectacular interventions by the Argentine team goalkeeper were in the same play at 19 minutes.
After a bad start from the back, Salzburg launched a direct attack.After a series of rebounds, Soumaïla Diabaté made a violent shot from the crescent of the area that Dibu managed to save.The rebound fell at the feet of Karim Konaté, but the Argentine quickly recovered and launched himself against the ball to save Aston Villa with a sensational double save.
*The summary of the match between Aston Villa and Salzburg
The visitors took the lead in the 32nd minute.Tyrone Mings made a huge mistake inside his own area and gave the ball to Edmund Baidoo.He passed it to Konaté, who scored without precision, but defender Víctor Lindelof, in his desperate attempt to clear the ball, ended up scoring the goal for Salzburg.
The team led by Thomas Letsch continued to dominate the proceedings in England, to the point that Draw Martínez kept Aston Villa in the game with three interventions before the close of the first stage.The first was a firm response to a shot from the edge of the area, while a minute later he blocked a one-on-one from Konaté, who tried to dribble it.Before the end of the first half, Lucas Digne left a short pass behind and the Argentine goalkeeper made the save in time to clear Edmund Baidoo’s attack.
The trend continued in the second half and Salzburg increased the lead with a great goal from Moussa Kounfolo Yeo.After a center to the middle by KerimAlajbegovic, the Mali attacker defined with a backhand inside the small area to overcome the resistance of Dibu Martínez.
*The unprecedented error of the Aston Villa defense in the 1-0 draw against Salzburg
Aston Villa got back into the game thanks to a good intervention by Emiliano Buendía with Morgan Rogers.Both managed to weave a remarkable associative play that ended with the Argentine enabling the British inside the area.He took a low shot that, after a review in the VAR, was validated as the discount.However, the albiceleste midfielder was replaced immediately at 66 minutes.
Unai Emery’s team was strengthened after the goal and, although DibuMartínez had to appear with some minor interventions, he cornered the visiting team.With this panorama, Tyrone Mings redeemed himself for his mistake in Salzburg’s first goal and converted the 2-2 tie with a header.
The turning point marked by the two goals was so great that, before the end of the match, Aston Villa took the lead on the scoreboard thanks to the conversion of Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba, who made the final score 3-2.
Aston Villa reached the last date of the league phase of the international competition with the ticket to the round of 16 in their pocket.However, he needed a victory to remain at the top of the table.Although they fulfilled their mission, Lyon from France beat PAOK 4-2, in an emotional match for the seven deceased fans of the Greek team, and took the lead by goal difference.Thus, the Villanosfinished second with 21 points.The defeat left Salzburg out of the competition.
It is worth remembering that the format of the Europa League is identical to that of the Champions League: the top eight go directly to the round of 16, those between ninth and twenty-fourth place compete in a two-leg playoff round, and from 25th place onwards they are eliminated from all European competition.
Aston Villa’s agenda will continue with activity corresponding to the PremierLeague: next Sunday from 11:00 (Argentine time) they will host Brentford as a home team.This match will be key for the fight for the title.
Arsenal leads the British competition with 50 points, while Manchester City and Aston Villa follow with 46 points.One of the special condiments that the 24th date of the Premier will have is that the Gunners will be the first to play: they will visit Leeds United on Saturday starting at 12:00.For its part, Pep Guardiola’s team will face Tottenham in London after their rivals, since the duel will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.
