Aston Villa continued their remarkable start to the 2024-25 Champions League season with a dominant 2-0 victory over Bologna on Tuesday, solidifying their place at the top of the table. The victory marked the third consecutive win for Unai Emery’s side, who remain the only team in the competition yet to concede a goal.
Villa’s dominance was evident throughout the match, with several chances created before the breakthrough finally came in the 55th minute. John McGinn, who has been instrumental in Villa’s early success, sent a sublime free-kick sailing over a sea of heads into the far corner of the net. Despite a VAR check for a possible handball, the goal was awarded, sending the Villa Park faithful into raptures.
The lead was doubled just nine minutes later when Jhon Duran, the hero of Villa’s victory over Bayern Munich three weeks prior, capitalised on a cross from Morgan Rogers. Duran showcased his predatory instincts, holding off defender Jhon Lucumi before expertly flicking the ball into the bottom corner.
Bologna, who have struggled for consistency this season with only one win in all competitions, threatened only briefly in the first half, with Thijs Dallinga testing Villa goalkeeper Emi Martinez early on. However, Villa controlled the tempo and narrowly missed several chances before the break, with McGinn’s long-range shot saved by Bologna goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and Rogers’ powerful effort sailing just wide.
Meanwhile, Sporting CP continued their strong start to the Champions League campaign with a comfortable 2-0 win over Sturm Graz in Austria. The Portuguese side, who have won 11 of their last 12 games in all competitions, dominated possession and created numerous chances.
Geny Catamo’s excellent run down the right wing in the first half led to the opening goal. His low cross was missed by Viktor Gyokeres, but Nuno Santos capitalized on the opportunity to put Sporting ahead. Sturm Graz goalkeeper Kjell Scherpen will likely feel he should have done better with the initial cross.
The second goal arrived in the second half, with Gyokeres showing his composure and class. He was released down the left flank and brushed aside his defender before calmly slotting the ball past Scherpen.
Sporting now sits in a strong position with seven points from three games, while Sturm Graz faces an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages after three consecutive defeats. The Austrian side will next face a tough challenge against Borussia Dortmund on November 5.
Aston Villa’s next fixture will be a trip to Club Brugge in the new 36-team league phase. The top eight teams from this phase will automatically qualify for the last-16. Sporting CP will host Manchester City in their next Champions League encounter, also on November 5, promising a fascinating clash between two of Europe’s most formidable teams.
