Jhon Duran scored a second-half goal and Emiliano Martinez made two fantastic stoppage-time saves as Aston Villa beat Bayern Munich 1-0 at Villa Park in the venue’s first Champions League match in over 40 years.
Villa fans of a certain age will relive the club’s greatest moment on Wednesday when Bayern Munich visit Villa Park in a rematch of the 1981-82 European Cup Final.
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A building that needed little provocation to be loud went bonkers in the 79th minute when Colombian starlet Duran continued his habit of scoring off the bench.
Martinez made huge saves late to keep the result in the win column, and Villa have now won consecutive UCL games by clean sheet after defeating Young Boys 3-0 in Switzerland to open the league phase.
Bayern falls to 1-0-1. Vincent Kompany’s team dismantled Dinamo Zagreb on Matchday 1 by an eye-popping 9-2 score line.
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Pau Torres immense as solid Villa shut down Bayern long enough to strike
Aston Villa center back Pau Torres will most likely spend a lot of time talking about his goal that was ruled out for offside in the build-up, but he deserves his flowers for an absolutely immense performance in front of equally-impressive Emiliano Martinez. And let’s focus on Torres, because Martinez’s seven saves including two late beauties are going to get a lot of love in the media. Torres had a phenomenal double block in the second half, and deservedly gets credit for taking the ball off Martinez and spotting Duran for the game’s own goal. Torres was linked with all the big clubs while at Villarreal and his arrival to Aston Villa probably never happens without the hiring of Yellow Submarine boss Emery. Torres was immense in the tackle and was credited with 11 interventions on Wednesday, worth his weight in gold.
Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich player ratings (from fotmob.com)
Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich player ratings (from fotmob.com)
What’s next?
Villa host Bologna next in the Champions League at 3pm ET October 22, a day before Bayern visit old pal Hansi Flick at Barcelona.
Villa’s next Premier League match comes at 9am Sunday versus Manchester United at Villa Park.
How to watch Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 3pm ET Wednesday (October 2)
Venue: Villa Park, Birmingham
How to watch: Stream on Paramount+ and TUDN USA
Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich live updates — By Nick Mendola
Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich final score: 1-0
Jhon Duran 79'
90th minute save!
Serge Gnabry is played into the 18 and ready to break thousands of Villa Park hearts.
But Emiliano Martinez, fittingly, sticks his leg out to stop the point-blank chance.
Neuer who? Jhon Duran goal (video)! Aston Villa 1-0 Bayern Munich (79th minute)
Pau Torres sends a long ball to Jhon Duran, who catches Manuel Neuer way off his line with a laser from 25 yards!
Will this withstand VAR? Yes!
SUPER-SUB JHON DURÁN PUTS VILLA AHEAD AGAINST BAYERN FROM DISTANCE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Dn53Tsg55Y
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) October 2, 2024
Villa enter final quarter-hour with a choice
The Villans have mostly kept Bayern away from the danger areas, and any incursions have been handled by desperation blocks.
Is Unai Emery thinking draw?
Bayern sub
Kompany removes Kingsley Coman and brings Jamal Musiala into the game.
Not a bad option.
Halftime — Aston Villa 0-0 Bayern Munich
This is anyone’s game, though even through the adrenaline and some very bright moments you have to say Bayern is a step ahead.
Vincent Kompany’s Bavarians forced two very good saves out of Emiliano Martinez and have turned 65% possession into six shot attempts to Villa’s two.
But Villa did break through for a goal with a razor-thin offside. It was offside but it doesn’t change the threat or the desperation finish.
Jacob Ramsey had to leave with an injury, and Leon Bailey played the final 18 minutes for the hosts.
VAR denies Villa goal
Oh, this is reason enough to abolish VAR (and to be clear, this writer’s not for that).
Villa waited 40 years to get back to the Champions League, and Villa Park erupts as Pau Torres pokes in a loose ball.
The fans are overjoyed — it’s visceral at Villa Park. But there’s offside in the buildup and the goal is eventually taken off the board.
That moment was awesome, but ultimately for nothing.
Yellow card for Upamecano
Dayot Upamecano is having a real time with Ollie Watkins, and now the Bayern back has been shown a yellow card for his troubles.
70 minutes to go.
Electric first 15 minutes
The vibes at Villa Park are massive and positive. Harry Kane threatened to sink them a bit with an early chance that was denied by Emiliano Martinez, but Villa have found their foothold for sure.
If you wondered what Unai Emery vs Vincent Kompany would look like, you probably pictured this.
Aston Villa lineup
Martinez, Konsa, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Tielemans, Onana, Philogene, Ramsey, Rogers, Watkins
Bayern Munich lineup
Neuer, Pavlovic, Upamecano, Kim, Davies, Laimer, Kimmich, Olise, Coman, Gnabry, Kane
Aston Villa focus, team news
OUT: Boubacar Kamara (knee), Tyrone Mings (knee), Jaden Philogene-Bidace (undisclosed), John McGinn (hamstring) | QUESTIONABLE: Matty Cash (thigh), Lucas Digne (knock), Diego Carlos (undisclosed)
Bayern Munich focus, team news
OUT: Sacha Boey (meniscus), Hiroki Ito (foot), Josip Stanisic (knee) | QUESTIONABLE: Harry Kane (ankle), Tarek Buchmann (fitness)
Aston Villa vs Bayern Munich prediction
Bayern had scored 20 goals in three matches prior to Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Leverkusen at the Allianz Arena. Both sides are capable of piling up goals, and Villa wobbled enough under the boots of Liam Delap at Ipswich Town at the weekend that it’s reasonable to think their Bavarian opposition will be able to find some success, too. There’s just the matter of beating Manuel Neuer. Aston Villa 1-2 Bayern Munich.
