2023/24
Matchweek 20
All times shown are your local time
Sat 30 Dec 2023
Kick Off:
Villa Park, Birmingham
Att: 41,613
Ref: Stuart Attwell
KOMins
18
23
28
31
42
  • HT
    56
    88
    89
    90 +6
    90 +8
  • FT
  • WHO'S GOING TO BE YOUR

    MAN OF THE MATCH?

    Report

    Douglas Luiz scored a dramatic late penalty as Aston Villa edged a five-goal thriller against 10-man Burnley to move level on points with leaders Liverpool.

    Leon Bailey’s opener was cancelled out by Zeki Amdouni, and after Moussa Diaby had restored Villa’s lead, Lyle Foster equalised for a Burnley team who had lost Sander Berge to a second booking. 

    But substitute Jhon Duran won a spot-kick that Douglas Luiz converted in the 89th minute to secure Villa’s first win in three matches.

    How the match unfolded

    Unai Emery made two changes to the side who lost from 2-0 up at Old Trafford in midweek. Alex Moreno and Moussa Diaby replaced Lucas Digne and Leander Dendoncker. Vincent Kompany made one change from defeat at Turf Moor, Johann Gudmundsson replacing Mike Tresor.

    Aston Villa quickly asserted their dominance and their pressure paid off in the 28th minute, as Ollie Watkins drifted infield and spread the ball wide to Leon Bailey who cut in from the right and fired a deflected shot high into the net.

    Burnley responded quickly. Johann Gudmundsson’s floated free-kick was met by Dara O’Shea at the far post. He headed across goal for Zeki Amdouni to stab home for his third goal of the season.

    The momentum was with the visitors and Lyle Foster thought he had put Burnley ahead, latching on to a ball in behind Villa’s high line and slotting beyond Emi Martinez, but the forward was marginally offside.

    With only a few minutes remaining of the first half, Villa’s lead was restored. Watkins was again at the heart of the move, running on to a pass over the top before cutting a low ball back that was tucked away by Moussa Diaby for his fourth goal of the campaign.

    Despite an encouraging start to the second half, Burnley’s task was made harder when in the 55th minute they were reduced to 10 men when Sander Berge was shown a second yellow card for a pull on Douglas Luiz.

    Shortly after the hour-mark came a flurry of chances for Villa to extend their lead. John McGinn forced Trafford into a strong low save with his shot from range before the young goalkeeper was called into action to parry a follow-up from Diaby.

    Moments later Villa came close again, Jacob Ramsey shooting over from close range from Ezri Konsa’s low cross.

    Chances continued to come for the hosts, Diaby again finding himself at the end of another well worked move, but his curling shot was just wide.

    Much against the run of play, Burnley hit back to punish Villa for their wastefulness in front of goal. A long goal kick was flicked on by Gudmundsson to Foster who held off several Villa defenders and fired past Martinez at his near post.

    With just minutes remaining of the 90, the hosts were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead for a third time when Aston Villa academy graduate Aaron Ramsey caught second-half substitute Jhon Duran in the penalty box. Following a significant delay, Douglas Luiz stepped up and fired home from the spot via the underside of the bar to seal the points.

    Unai Emery’s side go level on points with leaders Liverpool on 42 points while Burnley remain 19th with 11 points.

    Aston Villa report | Burnley report

    Match officials

    Referee: Stuart Attwell. Assistants: James Mainwaring, Nick Hopton. Fourth official: Tony Harrington. VAR: Peter Bankes. Assistant VAR: Eddie Smart.

    Show All

    Club Reports

    Match officials

    Referee: Stuart Attwell

    Fourth Official: Tony Harrington

    VAR: Peter Bankes

    Assistant VAR: Edward Smart

    Match related content will appear here

        Season So Far

        Aston Villa
         
        Burnley

        Top Player Stats

          Head-to-Head

          Aston Villa
          Total Wins
          5
          Home
          2
          Away
          3
          Burnley
          Total Wins
          2
          Home
          1
          Away
          1

          Played

          12

          Draws 5

          Recent Meetings