Aston Villa 2-1 Legia Warszaw – Moussa Diaby & Àlex Moreno score as Villains move top of Group E with win

Aston Villa celebrated progress to the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa Conference League with a solid 2-1 win over Legia Warszaw at Villa Park.

Unai Emery’s side were assured of qualification prior to kick-off, but nevertheless put in a professional display against a Legia side who had won the reverse fixture earlier in the group stage.

Villa could hardly have asked for a better start, with Youri Tielemans putting Diaby away with a nice pass down the line, and the pacy forward showed his class with a delightful left-footed finish.

But the visitors more than held their own in an evenly-balanced first half, and got back into it when Ernest Muci latched onto a wayward Boubacar Kamara pass before curling a peach of a shot into the top corner, repeating his scoring efforts after hitting a brace against Villa in the previous meeting between the sides.

Alex Moreno’s tidy finish from a trademark Douglas Luiz set-piece delivery gave Villa the lead after half-time, but the home side were unable to find a third goal that would have secured them top spot in the group with a game to spare.

Aston Villa are one of the best teams in this competition, but were given a real test by a Legia side who will also have aspirations of going all the way.

A cold Thursday night with a rotated side against a fired-up opposition – this is exactly the sort of match where many teams slip up, but Unai Emery’s side got the job done.

It will be slightly frustrating for the manager that the team weren’t quite able to find a third goal, although Leon Bailey couldn’t have got much closer when his late effort bounced off the line.

But this sort of performance is a message that Villa are taking this tournament seriously.

The Villa forward has settled in really well at the club and scored a superb goal to get the ball rolling for his team on the night.

The Frenchman was a constant threat all evening, making dangerous run after dangerous run, cutting in to great effect of the right flank.

And his performance received big praise from Peter Crouch on TNT Sports after the game.

“He really is quality,” Crouch said. “I remember speaking to John McGinn, he said when you’ve got players with that sort of pace, as he proved tonight, it’s so difficult to stop.”

Aston Villa: Olsen 8; Cash 7, Konsa 7, Lenglet 7, Moreno 8; McGinn 8, Kamara 7, Luiz 8, Tielemans 7; Diaby 8; Duran 8. Subs: Bailey 7, Ramsey 6, Zaniolo 6, Digne 6, Dendoncker 6.

Legia Warsaw: Tobiasz 7; Kapuadi 6, Pankov 5, Wszolek 5, Gil Dias 6, Muci 7, Elitim 6, Josue 6, Gual 7, Jedrzejczyk 6, Slisz 6. Subs: Kramer 7, Kun 6, Kapustka 6, Celhaka 6, Rosolek 6.

4’ – GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1-0 LEGIA WARSZAW (DIABY)

What a lovely goal that is, and Villa have the lead. Diaby cuts inside from the right, drifting to the edge of the area and curling a beauty of a shot into the far corner. 1-0 Villa.

20’ – GOAL! ASTON VILLA 1-1 LEGIA WARSZAW (MUCI)

That is pure class. Kamara gives the ball away in a dangerous spot and Muci takes advantage and then some. He controls with his first touch and sends a sensational whipped shot into the far top corner with his second. Class. 1-1.

58’ – GOAL! ASTON VILLA 2-1 LEGIA WARSZAW (MORENO)

What a lovely finish. Douglas Luiz whips a dangerous cross into the box and Alex Moreno meets it with a deft volley, turning the ball home to give Villa the lead once more.