Aston Villa Thrash Fenerbahçe 6-0 for Biggest European Win in Club History
Aston Villa thrashed Fenerbahçe 6-0 at Villa Park on Wednesday, October 14, in matchday 2 of the Champions League. It was the biggest European victory in the club's history, and also Villa's 11th consecutive home win in European competition.
Villa made a confident start, and the home side appealed for a penalty after seven minutes when Archie Gray went to ground. Play went on. In the 12th minute, Swiss midfielder Johan Manzambi opened the scoring on his Champions League debut, on his 21st birthday. A short corner routine led to a cross from John McGinn, and after a touch from Matteo Guendouzi the ball reached Manzambi, whose shot deflected into the net.
Fenerbahçe tried to come out of their shell, but goalkeeper Zion Suzuki made two good saves. Then Nicolas Jackson took charge. In the 31st minute he scored from the edge of the penalty area after a pass from Boubacar Kamara, giving Ederson no chance, and he added a second in the 39th minute. Fenerbahçe's best moment of the half came when Oğuz Aydın hit the crossbar.
Villa kept control after the break. When İsmail Yüksek conceded a penalty, Ross Barkley scored to make it 4-0, and he added a fifth soon after. The sixth came as the match entered stoppage time. Substitute Tammy Abraham tapped in a cross from Alysson, who had beaten his marker on the right byline.
Villa had only 42% of the possession, but they had 10 shots on target to Fenerbahçe's four. It was also their first home win of the season. Unai Emery's side had not won at Villa Park in their first three home games, and he said before the match that there were "no excuses". Villa had already won their opening Champions League game away at Club Brugge, and they now have six points from two matches. Their season in the Premier League has been slower, as they are 16th, following a summer in which key players including Ollie Watkins and Ezri Konsa were sold.
Mason Greenwood, who played for Fenerbahçe, was booed by the home crowd. After the heavy defeat, Fenerbahçe coach İsmail Kartal apologised to the club's supporters. Emery's side had beaten the Turkish club 1-0 in Istanbul in the Europa League in January.