Five wins on the spin, goals flowing, and a sense that Unai Emery’s side have finally found their rhythm after a stuttering start to the season. From the gloom of late September, when Villa were winless and goal-shy, to the current run of form that has lifted our spirits and expectations alike, the transformation has been nothing short of emphatic.
Thursday night sees Villa return to the Netherlands, this time to face Go Ahead Eagles at De Adelaarshorst in the UEFA Europa League. It’s an unfamiliar venue, but one that should hold no fear for a side that dispatched Eredivisie leaders Feyenoord with clinical ease just three weeks ago. That 2-0 win in Rotterdam was a statement, and it’s hard to see how a team sitting 15 points adrift of Feyenoord in the Dutch standings can pose a sterner test.
Villa’s European campaign began with a narrow but vital 1-0 win over Bologna, a result that sparked the current run and injected belief into a squad that looked short on confidence. Since then, the goals have come. Nine in the last four matches, including two superb strikes against Tottenham at the weekend, courtesy of Morgan Rogers and the resurgent Emi Buendia. That comeback win in North London was perhaps the clearest indication yet that Villa are not just riding a wave, but building something more substantial.
Go Ahead Eagles, for their part, have endured a mixed start to the season. Ninth in the Eredivisie and with just two wins from nine, they’ve struggled to find consistency. Their Europa League campaign began with a limp 1-0 defeat at home to FCSB, though they did rally to beat Panathinaikos 2-1 away, thanks to a late brace from Milan Smit. That result keeps them in the hunt, but facing a Villa side in full flow is a different proposition altogether.
The Dutch outfits games have featured goals in abundance of late, with nine of their last eleven matches featuring three or more. They’ve also found the net in nine of their eleven outings this season, suggesting they won’t go quietly. But Villa’s defensive discipline in Europe – two clean sheets from two – and our growing attacking threat should be enough to see them through.
Emery has spoken of the importance of squad depth, and with fixtures piling up, rotation will be key. Yet even with changes, Villa should on paper have too much. A third straight win in Europe would do nicely, and with it, a chance to tighten our grip at the top end of the table.
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