Aston Villa strengthened their UEFA Europa League campaign on Thursday night with a confident 2–0 home win over Maccabi Tel Aviv at Villa Park. Goals from Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen sealed a crucial victory that keeps Unai Emery’s side on track for the knockout stages.
⚽ First-Half: Maatsen Breaks the Deadlock
After a cautious opening, Aston Villa slowly found their rhythm. Maccabi Tel Aviv had an early chance through Dor Peretz, but the visitors couldn’t make it count.
Just before the halftime whistle, Villa’s pressure finally paid off. A slick move down the left saw Jadon Sancho combine with Morgan Rogers, who set up Ian Maatsen to drill home a smart finish from a tight angle. The goal lifted the home crowd and gave Villa a deserved 1–0 lead heading into the break.
🔥 Second-Half: Malen Doubles the Lead
Villa came out stronger after halftime, controlling possession and dictating tempo. In the 59th minute, Ezri Konsa was brought down in the box by Elad Madmon, and Donyell Malen stepped up to convert the penalty with ease — doubling Villa’s advantage.
From there, Unai Emery’s men managed the game with maturity. Douglas Luiz and Boubacar Kamara anchored the midfield, while Ollie Watkins came close to adding a third. Maccabi struggled to create clear chances as Villa’s backline — marshalled by Pau Torres — stood firm.
🧱 Defensive Discipline and European Momentum
The clean sheet was another positive sign for Villa, who have now recorded back-to-back European home wins. Emery’s tactical setup once again showed balance between pressing intensity and defensive control, something that has become a hallmark of his European campaigns.
Maccabi Tel Aviv, meanwhile, remain winless in the group and face an uphill task to keep their Europa League hopes alive.
⚠️ A Tense Night Off the Pitch
The match took place amid heightened security measures, with away fans banned from attending due to safety concerns. Over 700 police officers were deployed around Villa Park, and a handful of arrests were reported. Despite the off-field tension, the game itself unfolded without major incident, allowing football to take centre stage.
🏆 What’s Next for Aston Villa
The victory puts Aston Villa in a strong position in their Europa League group as they look ahead to their next European test. Emery will hope to carry this momentum into domestic fixtures, where consistency remains key to their top-four ambitions.
🔍 Key Takeaways
- Final Score: Aston Villa 2–0 Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Goals: Maatsen (45+1’), Malen (59’ pen)
- Man of the Match: Ian Maatsen
- Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
- Competition: UEFA Europa League Group Stage
