Aston Villa secured a hard-fought and dramatic 2-1 victory against Basel at St. Jakob-Park in the UEFA Europa League qualifying round. The win was a testament to the squad’s resilience and the tactical shrewdness of manager Unai Emery, allowing Villa to consolidate their position at the top of their group.
Early Control And An Immediate Response
Aston Villa started the match with clear intent, quickly taking control of the tempo and generating scoring opportunities. Their early pressure paid off in the 12th minute. Following a corner kick delivered by Matty Cash, the Basel defense failed to clear the danger decisively. Evann Guessand seized the opportunity, showing composure to finish neatly and open the scoring, putting the visitors ahead 1-0. The goal marked Guessand’s second strike in European competition this season, highlighting his growing importance.
However, Basel, playing at home, were not ready to surrender easily. After having a goal controversially disallowed by VAR in the 28th minute, the Swiss side found their equalizer shortly after. In the 34th minute, Xherdan Shaqiri delivered a superb, curling free kick into the box, which Flavius Daniliuc met with an accurate header, leveling the score at 1-1 and reigniting the atmosphere at St. Jakob-Park.
Emery’s Tactical Masterstroke
The turning point of the match arrived early in the second half, courtesy of a decisive tactical change by Aston Villa manager Unai Emery. Recognizing the need for greater control and attacking impetus in midfield, Emery introduced Youri Tielemans in place of Matty Cash.
The substitution proved immediately effective. In the 53rd minute, Emiliano Buendia showcased his strong physical presence and excellent hold-up play before releasing a perfectly weighted pass to the newly introduced Tielemans. The Belgian midfielder did not hesitate, unleashing a decisive, powerful shot from 18 meters that flew into the top right corner of the net. The brilliant strike restored Villa's lead at 2-1 and underscored Emery's sharp in-game management.
A Tense Finale Secures The Points
Despite regaining the lead, Aston Villa were forced to weather a period of considerable pressure from a desperate Basel side. The home team pressed hard in the final minutes, throwing bodies forward in search of another equalizer.
The tension peaked deep into added time. In the 90+2 minute, a dangerous free kick delivered by Schmid found Salah, whose header was directed toward the goal. The ball looked destined to find the back of the net, but substitute Morgan Rogers reacted superbly, making a crucial, match-winning save to clear the danger off the line.
The final whistle blew shortly thereafter, confirming the 2-1 victory for Aston Villa. This hard-fought result not only consolidated their leading position in the group but also propelled them to third place in the overall Europa League standings.
The win is an important achievement that keeps Unai Emery's team firmly on track and maintains high hopes of progression to the knockout stages, while the defeat leaves Basel facing significant difficulties in their own race for qualification. The combination of individual brilliance and astute coaching ensured Villa left Switzerland with three critical European points.