Aston Villa enjoyed a perfect night in their first Champions League game at Villa Park this season, hammering Fenerbahce 6-0 in a game filled with highlight performances.
Here are the match ratings from a joyous evening:
Zion Suzuki - 8/10
This was perhaps Suzuki’s best game as a pure goalkeeper for Villa, as he made some crucial saves, including at 1-0, denying Vedat Muriqi in a one-on-one situation by charging out of his goal to make the save. He later tipped a powerful shot onto the crossbar to preserve Villa’s 2-0 lead.
Matty Cash - 7/10
Villa’s right-back played a part at both ends of the pitch, doing his defensive work well and making his trademark overlapping runs outside of John McGinn in attack, firing some dangerous low crosses which on another day could have found a teammate for an easy finish.
Victor Lindelof - 7/10
Lindelof is very much ‘Mr 7/10’, seemingly putting in rock solid performances at centre-back game after game. What a signing he has been for Villa.
Pau Torres - 7/10
Torres was back in the lineup after an injury absence and was back to controlling the tempo from the back. He was steady defensively and hit some lovely passes to turn Fenerbahce’s defense and get Villa into attacking situations.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 7/10
There were justifiable concerns over whether Wan-Bissaka could perform on his ‘wrong’ side at left-back, but he looked like a natural on Wednesday night, marshalling Mason Greenwood effectively. He had a key block to shut down a Fenerbahce chance when Villa were only 1-0 up.
His performance is a really positive development for Villa, who will need him over the next few weeks.
Boubacar Kamara - 9/10
Reports of Kamara’s demise were greatly exaggerated. He looked back to his best against Fenerbahce, dictating the game and creating Villa’s second goal by intercepting a pass, before assisting Nicolas Jackson. Kamara has noticeably been getting forward more often early in the season.
Ross Barkley - 8/10
Barkley is a valuable squad player and showed his qualities on Wednesday night. Even though he did give the ball away in some less than ideal situations, it is hard to argue with two goals and an assist. It is nice to know Villa have a capable penalty taker after some issues in recent years.
John McGinn - 7/10
McGinn was not the star of Villa’s 6-0 win, but turned in the kind of hard-working performance Villa fans have come to expect from their captain, who remains indispensable to Unai Emery. His tackle won the ball back in the build-up for Villa’s third goal.
Johan Manzambi - 9/10
The birthday boy was given a gift on the day he turned 21, as his shot was deflected heavily into the Fenerbahce net for a goal on his Champions League debut.
Manzambi deserved the luck for cleverly peeling off into space in the box, and his ability to make Villa tick in the final third was on full display throughout the game. He also showed quick feet to win a penalty in the second half. Manzambi is a special player in the making.
Ibrahim Mbaye - 7/10
Mbaye put in a bright, energetic performance on his first Champions League start for the club, bringing a real threat on the left wing with his pace and directness. He also put in a shift defensively, which will be important if he is to break into the starting 11 full-time.
He is clearly still raw, and there were some loose touches here and there which cost him opportunities to have an impact, but it was an encouraging night from the 18-year-old.
Nicolas Jackson - 9/10
Perhaps it would have been a perfect 10/10 if he had taken Villa’s penalty and sealed a hat-trick, but Jackson was outstanding on Wednesday night and was voted Man of the Match by Villa fans.
More than just firing in two brilliant goals from the edge of the box, he worked tirelessly late into the game, showed his quality on the ball and did not give Fenerbahce a moment’s peace. Villa have hit a home run with the signing of Jackson.
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