In a poor start to their Europa Conference League campaign, Aston Villa were defeated 3-2 by Legia Warsaw in the Polish capital by Unai Emery’s team.
When Legia scored their third goal early in the second half, Villa, which had twice come back from deficits in the first half, was unable to answer. After Villa fell behind in the first few minutes of the game, Jhon Duran scored his fourth goal of the year to tie the game in the sixth minute. Lucas Digne then came in to tie the game before halftime after Ernest Muci scored his first goal of the evening.
Villa, which had twice overturned deficits in the first half, was unable to respond when Legia scored their third goal early in the second half. Jhon Duran scored his fourth goal of the season in the sixth minute to level the game after Villa fell behind early on. After Ernest Muci scored his first goal of the evening, Lucas Digne entered the game to tie it up before the half.
Ezri Konsa was unable to switch to right-back because Diego Carlos was injured, giving Chambers a chance to shine. The 28-year-old played with poise and skill when in control of the ball, but he struggled to defend.
After Digne failed to block Pawel Wszolek’s cross from the right, Muci scored his first goal of the game by tapping the ball in from close range. Chambers couldn’t get back in time to stop him.
When he handed the ball away carelessly in the second half, setting up Legia’s winning goal, Digne didn’t bask in glory. Muci was pushed out wide as Konsa backed off of him as he surged toward goal, but the Albanian international still managed to get off a shot that sailed past Chambers and Martinez before hitting the post and going in.
Patryk Kun’s inch-perfect cross was headed towards the back post by Legia’s first goal, but Chambers ought to have put more pressure on him. When Lucas Digne checked his shoulder after being caught monitoring the ball, Pawel Wszolek had already dashed into the area to connect with the cross.
A LATE RETURN WOULD NOT PAINT A FAIR REFLECTION.
Ollie Waktins, Moussa Diaby, Douglas Luiz, Jacob Ramsey, and Matty Cash were the five substitutions Emery made during the game. Despite the numerous changes, Villa was unable to control the game after struggling to establish a routine prior to the personnel changes.
It was encouraging that Villa had managed to keep the score level at halftime because they were careless in possession and exposed outside of it. Emery’s team trailed for the final 20 minutes of the game, but Legia withstood the pressure and dug in to secure the victory.
While Diaby also had a significant opportunity to restore parity late on, Ramsey missed Villa’s greatest opportunity when he strayed wide from inside the box. Last weekend against Crystal Palace, Villa managed to escape with a last-second comeback, but tonight’s performance wasn’t good enough to earn a victory.
Cash predicted that Villa will be able to block out the hostile environment at the Stadion Wojska Polskiego because Emery has the ability to calm the locker room before the match in Warsaw. Emery was shouting “calma, calma, calma” as he gesticulated angrily in the dugout when the cameras panned to him sitting on the bench.
Villa’s final third play was hurried and poorly coordinated. That did alter when Luiz came off the bench, and Emery’s team played more fluidly after that.
Because Emery has the capacity to calm the locker room before the game in Warsaw, Cash claimed that Villa will be able to block out the hostile atmosphere at the Stadion Wojska Polskiego. When the cameras turned to Emery sitting on the bench, he was yelling “calma, calma, calma” and making angry gestures in the dugout.
The play in the final third by Villa was rushed and poorly orchestrated. When Luiz came off the bench, that did change, and Emery’s team continued to play more easily after that.
