Aston Villa marked their return to Europe’s elite football competition, the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, League Phase, with an emphatic 3-0 win over Swiss champions Young Boys at the Stadion Wankdorf in Bern. This was Villa’s first appearance in the Champions League after a 41-year hiatus, and they didn’t disappoint. The Premier League outfit delivered a dominant performance, capitalizing on Young Boys’ defensive mistakes, and showcased their ambition in this new Champions League format. For Young Boys, it was a tough night as they struggled to keep up with the pace and quality of the English side.
Young Boys vs Aston Villa Head-to-Head
In the buildup to this encounter, Aston Villa and Young Boys had never previously faced each other in any competitive European match. Villa, returning to the Champions League for the first time since 1983, were eager to reestablish themselves among Europe’s footballing elite. Young Boys, known for their dominance in the Swiss Super League, hoped to upset their English counterparts on their artificial turf but found themselves outclassed by Villa’s quality.
Young Boys vs Aston Villa Lineups
Here are the Young Boys vs Aston Villa lineups today (Sep 17, 2024)
Young Boys XI (4-2-3-1):
- GK: David von Ballmoos
- DEF: Sandro Lauper, Mohamed Ali Camara, Tanguy Zoukrou, Jaouen Hadjam (Abdu Conté 63′)
- MID: Cheikh Niasse (Meschack Elia 45′), Zachary Athekame, Joël Monteiro (Darian Males 83′), Ebrima Colley (Alan Virginius 63′), Filip Ugrinic
- FW: Silvere Ganvoula (Cedric Itten 83′)
Substitutes:
Marco Bürki, Fabian Lustenberger, Cedric Zesiger, Jordan Lefort, Christian Fassnacht
Aston Villa XI (4-4-2):
- GK: Emiliano Martínez
- DEF: Matty Cash, Ezri Konsa, Lamare Bogarde (Diego Carlos 45′), Lucas Digne (Ross Barkley 88′)
- MID: Youri Tielemans (Ian Maatsen 87′), Amadou Onana, Jacob Ramsey, John McGinn
- FW: Ollie Watkins (Jhon Durán 60′), Morgan Rogers (Emiliano Buendía 88′)
Substitutes:
Robin Olsen, Boubacar Kamara, Leander Dendoncker, Bertrand Traoré
Young Boys vs Aston Villa First Half
Young Boys started brightly in front of their home fans, with Ebrima Colley testing Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez early on. However, it didn’t take long for Villa to assert their dominance. In the 27th minute, a short corner from John McGinn found Youri Tielemans, who took one touch before curling the ball into the back of the net to give Aston Villa a deserved lead. This marked Villa’s first Champions League goal since 1983.
The Swiss side’s defensive frailties became apparent shortly afterward when a defensive blunder gifted Villa their second. A wayward pass from Mohamed Ali Camara was pounced upon by Ollie Watkins, who was brought down by David von Ballmoos in the box. Despite calls for a penalty, play continued, and Jacob Ramsey tapped in Villa’s second in the 38th minute.
Villa ended the half 2-0 up, looking comfortable and in control, while Young Boys struggled to create clear chances.
Young Boys vs Aston Villa Half-Time: Young Boys 0-2 Aston Villa
Young Boys vs Aston Villa Second Half
Aston Villa continued their dominance into the second half, though Young Boys made tactical changes, including bringing on Meschack Elia. Villa had chances to extend their lead, but Watkins’ and Durán’s goals were disallowed for handball after VAR reviews.
The third goal finally came in the 86th minute when Amadou Onana unleashed a powerful strike from outside the box, finding the bottom left corner. This wrapped up a commanding performance from the Premier League side.
Young Boys had a few late attempts, including efforts from Silvere Ganvoula and Cedric Itten, but they were well dealt with by Martínez and the Villa defense.
Young Boys vs Aston Villa Full-Time: Young Boys 0-3 Aston Villa
Young Boys vs Aston Villa Stats
| Young Boys vs Aston Villa Stats | Young Boys | Aston Villa |
| Possession (%) | 46 | 54 |
| Shots on Target | 4 | 7 |
| Shots off Target | 8 | 10 |
| Corners | 5 | 7 |
| Fouls | 14 | 11 |
| Yellow Cards | 3 | 2 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 3 | 2 |
Young Boys vs Aston Villa Timeline
- 27’ – Goal! Youri Tielemans gives Aston Villa the lead after a clever corner routine, making it 1-0.
- 38’ – Goal! Jacob Ramsey taps in Villa’s second after a mistake by Young Boys’ defense.
- 45+4’ – First half ends with Villa in control, leading 2-0.
- 60’ – Substitution: Jhon Durán replaces Ollie Watkins for Aston Villa.
- 86’ – Goal! Amadou Onana seals the victory with a stunning strike from outside the box.
- 90+7’ – Full-time: Aston Villa secures a 3-0 win against Young Boys.
Key Moments
- Young Boys vs Aston Villa Man of the Match: Youri Tielemans – His goal and assist in Villa’s first Champions League match in over four decades proved pivotal in securing the win.
Fouls and Discipline
- Yellow Cards:
- Cheikh Niasse (Young Boys) – 33′
- Meschack Elia (Young Boys) – 53′
- Sandro Lauper (Young Boys) – 46′
- Jhon Durán (Aston Villa) – 79′
- Joël Monteiro (Young Boys) – 78′
Young Boys vs Aston Villa Impact on the Points Table
Aston Villa’s 3-0 victory propels them to the top of their group in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, League Phase with 3 points. Young Boys, after this defeat, find themselves at the bottom with 0 points. The win gives Villa a great platform for the remainder of the group stage, where they will face tougher opposition like Bayern Munich and Juventus. For Young Boys, they will need to regroup and seek redemption in their next matches.
Aston Villa’s emphatic 3-0 win over Young Boys in the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League, League Phase signals their strong intent to compete at the highest level. With key performances from Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey, and Amadou Onana, Villa controlled the game from start to finish. Young Boys, on the other hand, were left to reflect on their defensive errors, which cost them dearly. Unai Emery’s side will now look forward to their next European clash with confidence, knowing they have the quality to challenge the continent’s elite.
