Aston Villa booked their place in the knockout play-off round of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Legia Warsaw on Thursday evening. A fourth-minute stunner from Moussa Diaby and a first Villa goal for Alex Moreno were the difference on the night as Unai Emery's men claimed all three points to guarantee a top-two finish in Group E. It wasn't made easy for Villa as Legia got back into the game through an Ernest Muci thunderbolt but a strong second half response helped the men in claret and blue to find another breakthrough.
The majority of attention will be far away from the result itself as a major police operation took place ahead of kick-off following a mass confrontation with Legia supporters outside Villa Park. Birmingham Police described missiles being thrown, resulting in several officers being injured and away fans being penned into the car park outside the stadium. Not one of the Legia faithful were allowed into the ground, meaning there was an empty away end for the entirety of the game.
Villa got off to the perfect start as Diaby sprinted onto a Youri Tielemans through ball and dribbled easily inside before firing with conviction into the far bottom corner. It didn't take long for the visitors to get back into it, though, as Legia forward Muci scored a cracker of an equaliser in the 20th minute. Villans goalkeeper Robin Olsen made an awkward pass to Boubacar Kamara and the midfielder misjudged his onward ball, playing it straight into the path of Muci, who took one touch before curling the ball in the top right-hand corner.
Legia started the second period well and wing-back Gil Dias hit the woodwork with an audacious diving header but it was the Villans who scored next as Moreno, on his first start of the season, met a Douglas Luiz free-kick sweetly on the volley. The Spaniard broke free at the far post and struck with a karate-esque movement, giving Legia goalkeeper Tobiasz no chance. Moreno certainly enjoyed the moment as he wheeled away in celebration in front of the Holte End and was joined by his teammates. Emery was understandably delighted on the touchline, too.
The home fans were nearly treated to a third goal in the 88th minute as substitute Leon Bailey broke free down the centre and attempted a delicate chip over Tobiasz. The Jamaican's shot didn’t drop down quickly enough, however, as it struck the underside of the bar. Replays showed it was agonisingly close to making it over the line but the referee's watch didn't ping for a goal. Had it gone in, Villa would’ve guaranteed a topping of the group due to a better head-to-head record over Legia. As it was, though, the scoreline ended 2-1. Here are our Villans player ratings.
9. Youri Tielemans - 7 (off 71’)
Notched the assist for Diaby’s opener with a cracking through ball down the right. Didn’t create too much afterward but equally didn’t put much of a foot wrong. | Getty Images
10. Moussa Diaby - 8 (off 79’)
Scored his fourth goal of the season with a terrific curled effort into the far bottom corner. Looked a real threat afterward, too, as he gained confidence to run at Legia defenders throughout. | Getty Images
11. Jhon Duran - 6
Made some decent runs into the channels and forced a save from Tobiasz in the first half with a decent near-post effort. Lacked a clinical edge in the second period however, as he took too long to get shots away, allowing Legia to get back and defend. | Getty Images
12. Leon Bailey - 7 (on 79')
So nearly scored Villa a third as he hit the underside of the crossbar with a chip. Dilly-dallied a little when clean through on another occasion. | AFP via Getty Images