European Super Football

Bournemouth 0 - 1 Aston Villa  Ollie Watkins became Aston Villa’s all-time leading Premier League goalscorer after his first-half strike secured a hard-fought victory over Bournemouth and kept Unai Emery’s side firmly in the hunt for Champions League qualification. Author - Ajay Stadium - Vitality Stadium Watkins’ composed finish, delicately steering Morgan Rogers’ low cross into the far corner, was his 75th league goal for Villa, nudging him past Gabby Agbonlahor to claim the record outright. The result guarantees Villa a top-seven finish and European football next season, at the very least in the form of a UEFA Conference League spot. Yet the ambitions at Villa Park are now clearly aimed higher.  A closer look at what happened Until the winner, there had been few clearcut chances. Marco Asensio hit the post with the game’s first notable effort on 43 minutes and then Arrizabalaga saved well from Boubacar Kamara and Cash.  The home side struggled to test the Villa ke...

England 2 - 1 Netherlands I know that was then, but it could be again... England will face Spain in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin on Sunday following a last-minute goal from substitute Ollie Watkins that secured a win over the Netherlands. The Three Lions looked like they would be facing extra time for the third successive game after Harry Kane's first-half penalty equalised a stunning early strike from Xavi Simon. However, there was to be a dramatic twist. A superb late strike on the turn from the substitute Watkins sent England into their second successive European Championship final on a fantastic night in Dortmund. A chance now for Southgate and England to make history. England will play their first final on foreign soil since. The final of the 1966 World Cup and Euro 2021 took place at Wembley. True to their form in Germany, they reached the stage by coming from behind, enduring some tense moments, and eventually clinching victory through that late goal from Watkins. When...

Nottingham Forest 2 - 1 Aston Villa Anthony Elanga came off the bench to score a dramatic injury-time winner as Nottingham Forest turned a 1-0 deficit into a thrilling 2-1 victory over Aston Villa at the City Ground. Author - Craig H from GMCR Football  The Swedish forward struck in the third minute of stoppage time, threading the ball through Emiliano Martinez's legs to send Forest up to fourth in the Premier League table. Earlier, Villa’s Jhon Duran looked set to be the hero once again. Starting back-to-back Premier League games for the first time, the Colombian striker celebrated his 21st birthday in style, powering in a header for his 11th goal of the season. Forest thought they’d equalised when Chris Wood bundled the ball home, but the goal was ruled out for an offside in the build-up. Moments later, Nikola Milenkovic restored parity with a close-range header—his second goal in two games. With the City Ground crowd in full voice, Elanga capped the comeback with his first g...

Chelsea 0 - 1 Aston Villa Chelsea's rough start to the Premier League season continued as Aston Villa heaped more misery on them with a victory at Stamford Bridge. In a tight game, Ollie Watkins managed to score a decisive goal from an extremely challenging angle, slipping the ball between the legs of Chelsea's goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez. This came after Malo Gusto received a red card for a dangerous tackle, leaving Chelsea with only 10 players on the field. The Villa was boss was delighted with the win and performance to go with it. Footage from  Aston Villa Football Club - YouTube Mauricio Pochettino's team had several opportunities to score before Gusto's dismissal, but as has been the story for much of their season, they couldn't convert any of them into goals. Despite notable efforts from Nicolas Jackson and Raheem Sterling, who were thwarted by excellent saves from Villa's goalkeeper, Emiliano Martinez, and a missed chance from Enzo Fernandez. On th...

Aston Villa 1 - 0 Fulham Aston Villa recovered from their FA Cup semi-final defeat as they overcame Fulham in the Premier League to boost hopes of a top-five finish. Author - Peter Grainger  Stadium - Villa Park Unai Emery's side were beaten 3-0 by Crystal Palace at Wembley last time out but put that disappointment behind them with a hard-fought victory. After such an exciting run in this season's Champions League, they'll be hoping for another run at the competition next season.  A closer look at what happened After a fairly even and balanced start, Villa took the lead in the 12th minute. Youri Tielemans rose to meet John McGinn’s inswinging corner and powered a header beyond Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Ollie Watkins had a chance to double Villa’s advantage early in the second half but was unable to make telling contact with Matty Cash’s driven ball across the face of goal. Fulham thought they had found a way back when Ryan Sessegnon fired home with a low left-footed...

Aston Villa 4 - 2 Celtic Ollie Watkins played a key role in Aston Villa’s victory over Celtic, securing their place in the last 16 of the Champions League – just hours after Arsenal’s interest in the England striker became public. Author - Sean M Stadium - Villa Park Check out this iconic banner from the Villa fans . Watkins restored Villa’s lead after they had squandered an early 2-0 advantage, while Morgan Rogers, who set the tone early on, went on to complete a hat-trick in the emphatic win over the Scottish champions. Celtic now face a daunting play-off clash against Bayern Munich. It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Watkins, who won a second-half penalty but slipped at the crucial moment, sending his effort high and wide. Villa have no plans to part ways with the 29-year-old forward, especially now that Unai Emery’s side have secured qualification for the knockout stages, finishing eighth in the table. See some of the highlights in the video above. Footage from the Celtic YouT...

Aston Villa 3 - 1 Brentford Aston Villa ended an eight-game winless run in style, defeating Brentford 3-1 at Villa Park. Author - Alex W Unai Emery’s side had not tasted victory in the Premier League since their October triumph over Fulham at Craven Cottage. However, they took the lead early on when Morgan Rogers unleashed a stunning curling strike from the edge of the box into the top corner. Ollie Watkins, a former Brentford player, doubled Villa's advantage just seven minutes later. The striker coolly converted a penalty after being brought down by Ethan Pinnock in the area. Despite Brentford’s promising start in possession, they found themselves further behind when Matty Cash smashed home Rogers’ pinpoint cross at the far post. Premier League: 2024/2025 season news and stories Discover the latest from Villa Park by clicking here The away side's keeper, Mark Flekken, made several impressive saves, including one to deny Watkins from heading in Villa’s fourth early in the...

Aston Villa 3 - 2 Everton Jhon Duran’s stunning long-range strike secured a dramatic Premier League comeback win for Aston Villa, as Everton collapsed from a 2-0 lead for the second game in a row. Everton were left reeling, having already thrown away a two-goal advantage in their previous match against Bournemouth, and Saturday brought a painful sense of déjà vu as they squandered another lead, leaving them still without a point this season. A closer look at what happened Villa started strongly, with Ollie Watkins’ header cleared off the line, but it was Everton who struck first. Dwight McNeil dispossessed former teammate Amadou Onana – much to the delight of the travelling fans – before surging forward and firing a precise shot into the bottom corner. Despite their struggles and lack of confidence, Sean Dyche’s side extended their lead in the 27th minute when Dominic Calvert-Lewin rose highest to powerfully head home. However, Villa quickly responded. Ex-Everton full-back Luca...

Greece 0 - 3 England England are poised to return to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League with a win over the Republic of Ireland at Wembley on Sunday, following an impressive victory against Greece in Athens. Author - Peter Grainger from GMCR Football Lee Carsley's team avenged their disappointing defeat to Greece at Wembley in October, making Thursday's triumph even sweeter for the interim manager, especially given the squad was hit hard by player withdrawals. The emphatic result not only erased the memory of that 2-1 loss but also ensured England hold the upper hand in their head-to-head record with Greece, leaving the Three Lions in control of their own destiny. Ollie Watkins justified his selection over captain Harry Kane by giving England an early lead after just seven minutes, turning in a superb cross from Noni Madueke, who had carved open the Greek defence with a brilliant run. Jordan Pickford was pivotal when called upon, standing firm during rare moments of...

Leeds United 0 - 0 Aston Villa A goalless draw at Elland Road was a good one for Leeds United, who spent the entire second half a player down, battling against an Aston Villa side that was looking to take all three points. The Whites returned to Premier League action after 29 days without a match, following recent postponements and the international break.  When the match kicked off inside a packed out and eagerly awaiting Elland Road, both teams set off on the front foot looking to gain the early advantage, using their respective supporters to their advantage.  However, very little early on in terms of chances were to come, largely due to the stop-start nature of the match and plenty of early fouls between the teams. The first to be booked for one was Ludwig Augustinsson for the visitors, but he would not be the only name in the notepad early on. Shots on goal did arrive and both number one’s on the day were called into action. Illan Meslier denied Ollie Watkins, before ...

The 23/24 season isn't even finished yet.  The transfer rumours are already flying in from across all angles.  Let's explore some of the latest rumours from Europe's biggest clubs and also get some immediate reaction. It could be a busy summer at Old Trafford It has been reported across several media outlets that Manchester United have not given up on their attempts to land Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite . This is despite the new-look Old Trafford hierarchy deciding they will not entertain paying up to £80million when the transfer window reopens in the coming weeks. Additional rumours also say that the club have decided that the maximum they are willing to fork out for Branthwaite's signature is £55million.  Manchester United and Barcelona are reportedly vying for the signature of England international Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa. Watkins has had an outstanding season under the management of Unai Emery, becoming a key player for the team. Watkins' performan...

England 1-0 Australia Ollie Watkins made a triumphant return to the England national team by scoring the winning goal in a friendly match against Australia at Wembley. The Aston Villa striker turned in Jack Grealish's shot from very close to the goal line just before the one-hour mark, creating one of the few bright moments in an otherwise unimpressive performance by the English team. Watkins made up for a missed opportunity in the first half when he hit the post. Australia couldn't capitalize on several chances before halftime. Sam Johnstone, who was given the opportunity to play as the goalkeeper, made an excellent save against Keanu Baccus, and Mitchell Duke narrowly missed with a volley.  UK and Republic of Ireland announced as Euro 2028 hosts (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) Lewis Dunk also came to the rescue, clearing a shot off the line from Ryan Strain. After Watkins scored, Australia had a late opportunity to level the score, but Connor Metcalfe hit the post with a...

 Aston Villa 2 - 1 Brighton & Hove Albion Aston Villa beat Brighton at Park to secure a return to European football.  The home needed to win to finish seventh in the Premier League and earn a spot in the playoffs for the Europa Conference League. Villa flew out of the blocks and forged ahead when Douglas Luiz scored after eight minutes. Premier League news (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) The architect of the first goal, Jacob Ramsey played creator once again when he unselfishly teed up Ollie Watkins to make it 2-0 with 28 minutes played. As he did for the first goal, Jacob Ramsey played creator again. He unselfishly teed up Ollie Watkins to make it 2-0 with 28 minutes played. In the 38th minute, a VAR decision went Undav's way when he scored following a quickly taken free-kick by Pascal Gross. The assistant referee had initially flagged for offside, but this decision was overruled.  Click here to watch the highlights via the Aston Villa Facebook page.  The ...

Southampton 0 - 3 Aston Villa Aston Villa took a significant step towards securing back-to-back seasons in the Champions League with a 3-0 victory over already-relegated Southampton, despite Marco Asensio missing two second-half penalties. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - St. Mary's Stadium Unai Emery’s side were made to work for their win at St Mary’s, with all three goals coming after the break and all three scored by substitutes. It marked a piece of Premier League history, as Villa became the first team to have three different substitutes score in a single match. Ollie Watkins, introduced midway through the second half for Marcus Rashford, broke the deadlock when he latched onto a sublime pass from Youri Tielemans and fired in a first-time finish that struck the underside of the crossbar on its way in. Just minutes earlier, Watkins had won Villa’s first penalty after being brought down by Jan Bednarek’s clumsy challenge, only for Aaron Ramsdale to deny Asensio from the spo...

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Ipswich Town Ipswich Town produced a gutsy performance to claim a valuable Premier League point at Villa Park, despite playing almost an hour with 10 men. Author - Marcus Stadium - Villa Park The match had been uneventful until Axel Tuanzebe, facing his former club, brought down Jacob Ramsey on the edge of the area, picking up a second yellow card and leaving Ipswich with an uphill task. Up to that point, the visitors had defended resolutely, and they continued to frustrate Villa even with a numerical disadvantage. Against the run of play, Ipswich took a shock lead when Liam Delap beat Axel Disasi to Omari Hutchinson’s low cross, steering the ball into the far corner to silence the home crowd. As frustration grew among the Villa supporters, Ollie Watkins eventually levelled, reacting quickest after Marcus Rashford’s thunderous free-kick crashed against the crossbar. Villa pushed hard for a winner, with Marco Asensio missing a golden chance before forcing Alex Palm...

RB Leipzig 2 - 3 Aston Villa Aston Villa edged closer to securing a spot in the Champions League knockout stages with a dramatic late win over winless RB Leipzig, despite being pegged back twice. Author - Alex W Ross Barkley's deflected effort sealed the victory in the dying minutes after goals from Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner had cancelled out strikes from John McGinn and Jhon Duran. The Premier League side made a flying start, taking the lead inside three minutes. Ollie Watkins expertly nodded down Matty Cash's cross, setting up McGinn to smash home from close range. Watkins came close to doubling the lead soon after, narrowly missing Lucas Digne's low cross across the box. However, Leipzig capitalised on a rare mistake by Emiliano Martinez. The Villa goalkeeper misjudged a long ball, allowing Openda to pounce and slot into an empty net. Villa thought they had restored their lead just before half-time when Watkins found the net, but the goal was ruled out fo...

Aston Villa 4 - 1 Newcastle United Aston Villa delivered a scintillating display at Villa Park to sweep aside Newcastle United and underline their intent in the race for a top-five finish and Champions League football. Author - Peter Grainger Stadium - Villa Park Ollie Watkins gave Villa the perfect start, drawing level with Gabriel Agbonlahor as the club’s joint-highest Premier League goalscorer. His strike after just 33 seconds took a cruel deflection off Fabian Schär and left Nick Pope stranded. Newcastle responded in the 18th minute, with Schär making amends by heading home Harvey Barnes’ deep, curling cross. The ball crept through the legs of Emiliano Martínez to restore parity. But Villa refused to relent. Just after the hour mark, Watkins turned provider, sliding in Ian Maatsen who showed composure beyond his years to lift the ball delicately over the keeper and restore the lead. The hosts found another gear. Jacob Ramsey’s low ball across the box ricocheted in off Dan Burn ...

Aston Villa 1 - 1 Bournemouth Bournemouth striker Evanilson salvaged a crucial point with the final touch of the game against Aston Villa in the Premier League. Author - Craig H from GMCR Football  Deep into stoppage time, Bournemouth were awarded a free-kick. With everyone, including their goalkeeper, pushed forward, Marcus Tavernier delivered a cross to an unmarked Evanilson at the near post. The club’s record signing deftly nodded the ball into the far corner. Aston Villa had largely dominated and took the lead in the 76th minute when Ross Barkley capitalised on Leon Bailey’s header back across the box, volleying it in. Earlier, John McGinn thought he had put Villa ahead in the 28th minute, only to see his goal chalked off following a lengthy VAR check. McGinn had converted Ollie Watkins’ cutback, but VAR ruled that the ball had narrowly crossed the line for a Bournemouth goal-kick just before Watkins gained control. Despite Villa’s superior play, it was Bournemouth substit...

Are you looking to make some changes in fantasy football this weekend? This article will explore the players you may want to bring in. Author - Mark Lee Jurrien Timber - Arsenal The Dutchman is poised to secure a run of starts in Arsenal’s back four due to an injury to fellow defender Ben White.  Timber's potential for assists is underscored by his impressive statistics. Despite starting only eight of the first 11 matches of the season, he has recorded 10 key passes, placing him fourth among Arsenal players. The 23-year-old also took six shots, which is second only to Gabriel among his side's defenders. After facing a difficult set of opponents, Mikel Arteta's team is now entering a more favorable schedule, making their defenders worth considering for your picks. Ollie Watkins - Aston Villa The Aston Villa forward has been struggling with his performance, scoring just one goal in his last five matches. However, with three favourable home games in the next few weeks, W...

Aston Villa 2 - 0 Cardiff City Marco Asensio was the star of the show for Aston Villa again as he helped them secure a deserved 2-0 win over Championship strugglers Cardiff City in the FA Cup. Author - Jamie P Stadium - Villa Park The hosts maintained control throughout the match but faced a strong performance from visiting goalkeeper Ethan Horvath, who made several crucial saves to keep Cardiff competitive. In a clash of attack versus defense, the hosts struggled to break down Cardiff's low block. However, they eventually found the breakthrough when Marco Asensio scored from a precise cross by Marcus Rashford. Asensio secured the win in the 80th minute with another clinical finish, converting a cross from Leon Bailey. This was his fourth goal since joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in January. This could still be a landmark year for Aston Villa This year for Villa could yet be one for the history books, with Unai Emery’s side still in the hunt for silverware on two fron...