RB Leipzig’s woeful UEFA Champions League campaign continued with a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa, marking a club-record sixth consecutive loss in the competition. The result not only sealed Leipzig’s elimination but also left them with little to show for a campaign that promised much.
The match began with high drama, as Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa sent a ball through to Benjamin Sesko, only for the striker to miss the chance by firing high and wide. However, it was Villa who struck first after just 153 seconds. A slick move saw Matty Cash deliver a perfect cross to Ollie Watkins, whose header fell to John McGinn. The midfielder made no mistake, coolly slotting home to give Villa the lead.
Villa looked dominant early, with both Watkins and Youri Tielemans coming close to extending the advantage. Yet, disaster struck for Unai Emery’s men when Emiliano Martinez made a rare mistake. A long ball from Leipzig’s Nicolas Seiwald appeared harmless, but Martinez hesitated in collecting it, allowing Lois Openda to pounce and score, leveling the game.
In a tactical change, Emery brought on Jhon Duran in place of the ineffective Watkins, and the Colombian made an instant impact. Just seven minutes after his introduction, Duran scored a wonder goal from 25 yards, curling a stunning shot over Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi to restore Villa’s lead. The goal sent the away fans into raptures, with Duran showing the kind of quality that’s made him a key player for Villa this season.
Though Villa looked to extend their lead shortly after, Duran’s second goal was ruled offside due to an infringement involving Cash in the build-up. Leipzig capitalized on the reprieve, equalizing in the 61st minute. Openda was again involved, this time holding the ball up and delivering a cross for Christoph Baumgartner, who guided the ball into the far corner to make it 2-2.
With Villa’s defense shaky at times, Leipzig had a golden chance to take the lead late on when Openda pounced on a dreadful pass from Pau Torres. However, the Belgian forward failed to score, a miss that proved costly for the hosts.
In the dying moments, Ross Barkley’s shot from the edge of the box took a wicked deflection off Leipzig defender Lukas Klostermann and wrong-footed Gulacsi, sending Villa into a 3-2 lead and ultimately sealing the win.
The victory not only ended Villa’s four-match losing streak away from home but also moved them into third place in the Champions League standings. However, the win was bittersweet for Villa, as it was dedicated to a supporter who tragically passed away during the match. Villa’s players and fans paid tribute to the late supporter, ensuring that this dramatic away victory would forever be remembered for both the joy and sorrow it brought.
As for Leipzig, the loss leaves manager Marco Rose’s future in doubt, with the team now facing the harsh reality of elimination and a club-record run of Champions League defeats.
