Aston Villa's Europa Conference League clash with Legia Warsaw was marred by disorder as Legia fans were held outside Villa Park, injuring three police officers. Legia accused Villa of non-compliance with UEFA rules, leading to reduced fan allocation. Despite the disturbances, Villa won 2-1, advancing to the knockout stages. Ollie Watkins, initially rested due to injury, later played against Bournemouth, where Villa drew 2-2. Villa's performance against Manchester City was lauded as they secured a 1-0 victory in a dominant display.
Full-time and Villa win 1-0. They were far more dominant than the scoreline suggests. Personally I can't be too alarmed as that game seemed inevitable given the absences and what those absences deny City (sorry to say it again but control). In an attempt to get as much control as…
VILLA VILLA VILLA who else pins City back like that? NO. ONE.
Wow. Villa battered City. https://t.co/bHfWS4kCKE
Wow. #AVFC keep the ball on the edge of the box and Douglas Luiz's whipped effort hits the far post. Honestly, Villa could be three or four up. Utterly dominant. Can't remember seeing City be outplayed in a big game to this extent, even if they do get something out of this
This Aston Villa performance is the best I've seen in the Premier League this season. Outstanding #AVFC https://t.co/gsVb4tAmNm
Villa have deserved that. Been superb
Villa have City on the ropes. Suffocating them inside their half and Guardiola is bringing on two subs - his side need respite. #AVFC are like a boxer constantly jabbing
Villa is doing to City what City does to everyone else. This is wild.
HT: #AVFC 0-0 Man City Arguably Villa's best half of the season. Have shown an abundance of quality and courage to keep playing their way and, if anything, even more aggressively. City are a threat on the counter, which tells you how well Villa have played. Shame it's goalless.
Villa score but ball adjudged to have been out of play
Really high level game, this. #AVFC's midfield getting through a lot of work shuttling side to side, locking on centrally and trying to force City backwards and around. So physically demanding - Villa fancy Bailey and Watkins in behind City's backline, too.
Looked like Haaland would've been offside even had the header gone in. Internet patchy here so another update: City not really pressing Villa at all but Villa are happy to just go long to try to find a runner in behind - has looked dangerous
Err so this was exactly as expected. Villa really up for this one and swarming on City/attacking quickly
Huge bellowing roar at kick-off. Loudest Villa Park has been this season. Box midfield for #AVFC - McGinn and Tielemans No 10s behind Watkins. Emery wants long spells of ball possession tonight - early signs are that City won't press Villa's backline.
#AVFC have won just 1 of their last 12 PL games on a Wednesday - Emery has never beaten Guardiola & Villa have only won 7% of games against City (4/56). BUT... Fortress Villa Park is in their favour and this will be the biggest test yet of such dominant home form. What a cracker https://t.co/LxI9QbaRdK
Unai Emery on Ollie Watkins: "He's strong. When he's feeling good physically he can play matches in a row like we are playing. On Thursday we didn't want to take the risk. "It's a very good point." #AVFC
FT: Bournemouth 2-2 #AVFC Good job Ollie Watkins passed Saturday's fitness test. Rescued a point from nothing. Villa poor for the most part, curiously dysfunctional and lucky not to concede more. Defensive set-up away from home is an issue but Watkins' header was brilliant.
Ollie Watkins is here and in the squad for #AVFC.
Chris Heck: “The lack of cooperation and prevarication from Legia Warsaw officials prior to the match was entirely unacceptable and deeply disappointing. "The scenes of disorder from the Legia fans have no place in modern football or civilised society." #AVFC
Unai Emery on whether Ollie Watkins will be fit for #afcb: “He’s going to be a doubt. We are going to wait until tomorrow and it will depend if we can take the risk with him and what he feels for one match for 90 minutes. It's 50/50 for Sunday." #AVFC
#AVFC to launch an official complaint to UEFA over Legia's behaviour. Legia given 4 weeks to speak to fans over 1000 allocation. At 10.30am Thursday, Legia told UEFA officials they were unsure if they'd accept any tickets at all. Full story @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/N6y1F3a4H6
Despite Legia fans filtering away, @TheAthleticFC spoke to five supporters at half-time. They tucked their Legia scarves underneath their coats & initially claimed to be #AVFC fans. It was unclear if they had tickets at all. A timeline of events below: https://t.co/erQ048jB17
Police injured in clashes with Legia Warsaw fans before Aston Villa advance Three officers hurt as visiting supporters throw objects including flares before Aston Villa’s 2-1 win in Europa Conference League tie Read our story by @CharDuncker ⬇️ https://t.co/RpT5V1czDC
Emery on Ollie Watkins: "He was not available today. He felt something yesterday. I don't think its important but we decided not to take the risk. Secondly, we wanted minutes for Jhon Duran." Says he's unsure if Watkins will be fit for Bournemouth but "hopefully yes." #AVFC
FT: #AVFC 2-1 Legia Villa progress into the knockout stages & move into top spot with a game to go. Difficult match with a strange first half atmosphere due to the circumstances, but controlled things much better than the reverse fixture. Great to see Moreno & Ramsey back.
Aston Villa back in front! Great finish from Moreno! #UECL https://t.co/Xu1eXcfKtl
#AVFC statement: "In spite of numerous requests for cooperation from Legia Warsaw concerning their travelling supporters, especially in the last two days, no assistance on the serious safety matter of away fans attending Villa Park was forthcoming from the visiting club." (1/4)
Three police officers were injured after crowd disorder outside Villa Park before Aston Villa’s Europa Conference League fixture against Legia Warsaw. Story @TheAthleticFC #AVFC https://t.co/cd0QWXTQ3w
Just been outside of Villa Park. Still some sections Legia supporters outside. #AVFC
Legia Warsaw fans injure three police officers in ugly scenes at Villa Park as Polish supporters are held outside Aston Villa's ground ahead of Europa Conference League clash https://t.co/zkB40APzDG https://t.co/kAw9pMCMGW
West Midlands Police have confirmed 'three officers have been injured amid disorder with Legia Warsaw fans outside Villa Park. They say they cannot let them in the ground and told the public to avoid Witton Lane'. https://t.co/12gGf0At7j
A few Legia supporters have just broken into the stadium celebrating their goal (behind the wall). #AVFC https://t.co/Yd55Ovxjos
Some Legia supporters are now by a corner of The Holte End, clearly needing to be away from Villa Park by full time. Villa fans inside the ground can see them. Objects being thrown. On the pitch, there is a lot of space for #AVFC - almost the opposite of the first game.
West Midlands Police say three officers were injured outside Villa Park before Aston Villa's game against Legia Warsaw. The police are not allowing away fans into the ground after missiles were thrown at officers. #BBCFootball #UECL https://t.co/hOY7cjqP4t
BREAKING: Three police officers injured outside of Villa Park ahead of Aston Villa clash Read more 👇 https://t.co/NV4CoKEYio
What a start for Aston Villa! #UECL https://t.co/qvjwBEc5V0
For those wondering, Ollie Watkins picked up a minor injury in training yesterday. #AVFC decided to rest him ahead of a busy week.
Birmingham Police: "We're currently unable to allow away fans into Villa Park following disorder outside the stadium which has seen missiles thrown at officers. Three officers have already been injured & a significant policing operation continues." #AVFC
Approaching kick-off and no Legia Warsaw supporters inside Villa Park, with trouble continuing outside. Legia have released a statement stating #AVFC “strongly refused to comply with UEFA competition rules.” Legia reduced to under 1000 with Legia stating they are allowed 2,100. https://t.co/O9ULeXwO6W
Disturbing scenes outside Villa Park at the moment. Legia fans not yet in the ground with 20 mins until KO and currently penned in a car park. They were deeply unhappy with restricted allocation with more fans, without tickets, in the UK. AZ had similar issues with Legia. #AVFC
A cold, biting Villa Park🥶 Should be a hostile atmosphere tonight - loud, police on horseback & qualification on the line. #AVFC need to win by two or more goals to progress - could do without the extra games. @TheAthleticFC matchday discussion is live⬇️ https://t.co/5nCe9PleHB https://t.co/Zdxh4fjb1N