Aston Villa’s impressive Champions League debut continued as they strengthened their chances of automatic qualification to the last 16 after a 3-2 win at RB Leipzig.
Ross Barkley’s 85th-minute winner gave them victory after they had twice squandered the lead in Germany.
John McGinn and Jhon Duran goals at the start of each half were cancelled out by Lois Openda and Christoph Baumgartner.
But Barkley had the final say less than two minutes after coming off the bench as his deflected effort earned the points which sent his side third in the new Champions League league phase.
The top eight automatically qualify for the next stage and with games against Monaco and Celtic to come, Unai Emery’s men are a good bet to avoid the need for a play-off round in their first foray in this competition.
Leipzig are out, having lost all six of their games.
Villa enjoyed a dream start and were ahead with less than three minutes on the clock.
Matty Cash, playing in a more advanced position on the right, crossed for Ollie Watkins, who nodded down into the path of McGinn and the skipper made no mistake from close range.
That gave the visitors confidence and they had enough chances in the first 15 minutes to have the game wrapped up.
Lucas Digne’s cross from the left was begging to be converted but Watkins could not make contact from close range and then Morgan Rogers shot straight at Leipzig goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
Then Youri Tielemans found himself with time and space on the edge of the area from Watkins’ tee-up but the Belgium international disappointingly dragged wide.
All that good work was undone in the 27th minute, though, as Emiliano Martinez was left red-faced.
The Argentinian was too casual waiting to collect Nicolas Seiwald’s long ball and Openda nipped in to get the ball first and tap into an empty net.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024
Duran was introduced at the break and needed just a couple of minutes to fire a warning when he drilled wide after a loose ball fell to him 14 yards out.
But the Colombian got his goal in the 52nd minute, though it was another moment for the goalkeeper to forget.
Duran was invited to drive forward and unleashed a 25-yard shot, which was hardly an Exocet, but still was too much for Gulacsi, who barely even jumped.
It was his 10th goal of the season and sixth from the bench as he continues his super-sub role.
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) December 10, 2024
The striker was not complaining and he thought he had doubled his tally shortly after when he converted Cash’s centre but the provider was ruled offside by VAR.
Five minutes later, Villa found themselves pegged back again with a finish of real quality.
Openda was sent clear by another long ball and his cross was perfect for Baumgartner to cushion a far-post volley back across goal and into the corner.
Digne brought a save out of Gulacsi and then Openda shot straight at Martinez as both sides pushed for a winner.
It was Villa who got it as Barkley saw his deflected effort wrong-foot Gulacsi and hit the back of the net.
