VILLA BEATS YOUNG BOYS IN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SOCIAL OPENING GAME

Aston Villa marked their return to the top flight of European club competition on Tuesday with a dominant 3-0 win over Swiss side BSC Young Boys.

Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana scored at the Wankdorf Stadium, while goals by Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran were disallowed due to handball.

Young Boys had the better players from the start and threatened to break the deadlock through Ebrima Colley, but it was Villa who scored the first goal after a well-executed corner kick routine.

John McGinn collected a short set piece from Lucas Digne and fired a beautiful cross towards the far post, where the completely unmarked Tielemans grabbed the ball out of the air and fired it into the bottom left corner. It was Villa’s first goal in the top flight of European competition in 42 years.

Ramsey doubled Villa’s lead after a disastrous defensive effort from Young Boys, which saw goalkeeper David von Ballmoos bring down Watkins in the box. Before referee Georgi Kabakov could point to the penalty spot, Ramsey headed the loose ball into the bottom corner.

After two goals were disallowed, Onana finally secured the three points and the perfect start to Villa’s Champions League season with a wonderful shot from 23 metres that landed in the bottom left corner – his third goal of the season.