John McGinn continued his excellent run by finding the net once more, guiding Aston Villa to a spirited triumph over Feyenoord in the Europa League.
The English side arrived in Rotterdam aiming to build on a recent upturn, having failed to win any of their first six outings this season. Consecutive victories in Europe, together with their opening league success, have marked a clear improvement, with their skipper scoring in three straight fixtures.
The decisive moment for McGinn came when Donyell Malen burst into the penalty area but was crowded out by three home defenders, the loose ball falling perfectly for the Scot to slot in Villa’s second.
Contentious moments shape first half
Before the breakthrough, the visitors were angered by a key refereeing call early on. In the 13th minute, Anel Ahmedhodzic hauled down Ollie Watkins as the forward advanced towards goal. The defender was initially cautioned, and referee Rade Obrenovic was invited to re-examine the incident on the pitchside monitor. He nevertheless kept his decision unchanged, despite Watkins appearing to be denied a clear scoring chance.
Feyenoord thought they had taken the lead when Ayase Ueda’s close-range header clearly crossed the line. However, the effort was ruled out after a foul on Matty Cash in the build-up, sparing Villa an early setback.
An end-to-end opening period followed, with the hosts firing 13 attempts, five of them on target, as both sides created promising opportunities.
Buendia and Bizot star in key moments
The deadlock was finally broken in the 61st minute when Emiliano Buendia curled in a composed finish, turning the momentum in the visitors’ favour. It was a notable moment for the midfielder, who has now scored in consecutive matches after recovering from a long-term knee injury and ending a year-long drought against Fulham just days earlier.
While McGinn grabbed the headlines with his scoring streak, goalkeeper Marco Bizot produced a standout performance between the posts. Drafted in shortly before kick-off due to Emiliano Martinez’s calf issue, the Dutchman made several sharp saves, including a crucial tip over from Luciano Valente. Bizot has now made 15 saves in this European campaign, more than any other player, and has kept back-to-back clean sheets.
Signs of Villa’s resurgence under Emery
Returning to De Kuip, the stadium where they famously lifted the European Cup in 1982, Villa produced a composed second-half display. Buendia’s opener subdued Feyenoord’s intensity, while Emery’s men maintained control to secure a professional victory.
Their recent struggles had raised doubts, but this latest result provides further evidence that they are rediscovering the resilience and rhythm that have characterised their game in recent seasons under their experienced coach.
The win lifts Villa to third place in their group, and with Emery’s impressive record in the competition, the club will hope this marks the beginning of a strong European run.
