Football

AZ Alkmaar 1-4 Aston Villa player ratings: Villains run riot in the Netherlands

October 26, 2023 8:05 pm

Aston Villa have taken a huge step towards qualification for the knockout stages of the Europa Conference League with a 4-1 victory over AZ Alkmaar. Unai Emery’s side came into the match on three points after their last-gasp win on matchday two but needed a positive result at the AFAS Stadion to stay on track for qualification.

The night couldn’t have gone much better for the Premier League outfit who dominated the match from start to finish. Leon Bailey gave them the lead after 13 minutes with an emphatic finish before Tielemans made it 2-0 ten minutes later.

Villa would have been expecting the home side to come out all guns blazing in the second half, and they did but it worked to their advantage. Ollie Watkins and John Mcginn added goals three and four on the counterattack to well and truly silence the home crowd. Ibrahim Sadiq made it 4-1 in the 65th minute but there was to be no dramatic comeback.

AZ Alkmaar 1-4 Aston Villa player ratings
Photo by Icon sport

AZ Alkmaar 1-4 Aston Villa player ratings

Match timeline

13′ – GOAL: Leon Bailey opens the scoring with a wicked strike from the edge of the box.

22′ – GOAL: Youri Tielemans finishes cooly in between the goalkeepers legs to make it 2-0 to Aston Villa.

35′ – Sven Jabionski thinks he’s pulled one back for AZ Alkmaar but the referee disallows it for offside.

51′ – GOAL: Ollie Watkins is the quickest player to a rebound inside the box and he finishes into an empty net to make it 3-0 to Aston Villa.

56′ – GOAL: It’s 4-0 to Aston Villa as John Mcginn taps home after a wonderful Aston Villa counterattack.

65′ –  GOAL: Ibrahim Sadiq hammers home from the edge of the box to make it 4-1.

Star man – Leon Bailey – 9/10

Leon Baily has been a source of frustration for Aston Villa supporters since his big-money move from Bayer Leverkusen last summer but there are signs that the winger is starting to find his feet at the club. Bailey has scored three goals and provided one assist for the Villains in the Premier League this season and was in fine form against AZ Alkmaar.

On Thursday, he opened the scoring with a wicked strike on the half-volley before turning provider in the second half for John McGinn. If Bailey can continue this level of performance then Aston Villa are only going to become an even better side in the games ahead.

AZ Alkmaar player ratings

Mat Ryan 4/10 – Conceded four goals and will feel disappointed by the second.

Yukinari Sugawara 5/10 – Didn’t fare too badly but was caught out of position a few times against Watkins.

Riechedly Bazoer 4/10 – Struggled against the pace of the Villa frontline.

Penetra 3/10 – Was pulled over the place by Watkins and Bailey and can have no arguments about being substituted at half time.

David Wolfe 2/10 – Torn apart by Bailey throughout and looked like he wanted to come off.

Dani de Wit 5/10 – Showed some class in possession but questions will be asked about how open he left the midfield.

Jordy Clasie 5/10 – Put in some heavy challenges but ultimately lost out against McGinn.

Sven Mijnans 4/10 – Struggled with the intensity of McGinn and Tielemans and was hooked at the break.

Ibrahim Sadiq 6/10 – Was Alkmaar’s brightest spark and deserved his goal in the second half.

Vangelis Pavlidis 5/10 – Had a few half chances that he snatched at.

Myron van Brederode 4/10 – Offered very little and was very wasteful.

Substitutes

Bruno Martins Indi 5/10 – Didn’t help the solidity of the team.

Tiago Dantas 5/10 – Looked out of his depth.

Jens Odgaard 6/10 – Provided more impetus.

Ruben van Bommel 6/10 – Looks a classy player.

Djordje Mihailovic N/A

az alkmaar players
Photo by Icon sport

Aston Villa player ratings

Emiliano Martinez 6/10 – Made some decent saves but will have been annoyed to have lost his clean sheet.

Matty Cash 6/10 – Was caught out a couple of times but a decent night’s work on the whole.

Diego Carlos 6/10 – An assured performance but will feel he could have gotten tighter for the goal.

Clement Lenglet 7/10 – A dominant performance at the back.

Lucas Digne 7/10 – Helped to spring several counter attacks and looked positionally sound.

Douglas Luiz 7/10 – Sat the base of midfield and ensured Villa were strong throughout.

John McGinn 9/10 – Was everywhere and finished his night with a goal and an assist.

Youri Tielemans 8/10 –  A lovely cool finish in what was his best performance in a Villa shirt so far.

Boubacar Kamara 7/10 – Gave Villa plenty of energy in the middle of the park.

Leon Bailey 9/10 – Quick, clinical and devastating on the counter attack.

Ollie Watkins 8/10 – Yet another goal for the in form striker.

Substitutes

Nicolo Zaniolo 6/10 – Slotted in nicely.

Moussa Diaby N/A

Leander Dendoncker N/A

Bertrand Traore N/A

Jhon Duran N/A

AZ Alkmaar 1-4 Aston Villa player ratings: The final word

Aston Villa have recorded several impressive victories already this season but this one tops the lot. They haven’t played in European competition for over a decade so to win away from 4-1 against AZ Alkmaar, who are unbeaten in the Eredivisie this season, is emphatic to say the least. The Villains will now move on to their game against Luton at the weekend with an extra spring in their step.

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