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"Aston Villa climbed to the top of Group E in the Europa Conference League after a classy victory against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar at AFAS Stadion.", |
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"Leon Bailey and Youri Tielemans got Villa off to the perfect start with a goal apiece in the space of 10 first-half minutes.", |
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"Alkmaar spurned several good opportunities before the break, included a guilt-edged chance for top scorer Vangelis Pavlidis when he was clear through on goal.", |
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"Ollie Watkins then further strengthened the visitors' grip on the game early in the second period, reacting quickest to turn home after Bailey's shot had been saved.", |
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"Captain John McGinn grabbed Villa's fourth when he showed desire to get ahead of his man and poke in at the near post, ensuring it would be a memorable night for Unai Emery's side.", |
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"Alkmaar winger Ibrahim Sadiq pulled one back shortly after the hour mark with a pinpoint shot from distance into the bottom corner.", |
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"Villa top of Group E after three games in the competition, but Zrinjski Mostar and Legia Warsaw, who meet later, both sit just three points behind.", |
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"Villa's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez hailed Emery as 'one of the top five managers in the world right now' in the build-up to Thursday's encounter.", |
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"Emery, 51, is a four-time Europa League winner, lifting Europe's second-tier competition three seasons in a row between 2014 and 2016 and overseeing Villarreal's 2021 final success against Manchester United.", |
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"He is now trying to mastermind Villa's first trophy success since they won the League Cup in 1996.", |
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"All the signs look extremely positive as they demolished an Alkmaar side who reached the semi-finals of the Conference League in 2022-23, losing against West Ham.", |
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"Rotation has been key as Villa look to fight on multiple fronts and they did not skip a beat, despite four changes from Sunday's 4-1 Premier League home win over West Ham.", |
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"Two of those replacements, Bailey and Tielemans, slotted in seamlessly as Villa's high-pressing approach saw them enjoy the early exchanges.", |
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"Bailey, scoring for the third game in succession for club and country, broke the deadlock with a fizzing half-volley, while Tielemans showed composure to gather McGinn's defence-splitting through ball before prodding through the legs of goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.", |
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"Watkins had the easiest finish of the night to chalk up his ninth of the campaign when Bailey's effort fell kindly into his path just five yards out.", |
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"McGinn's endeavour to make a driving run into the box paid dividends when he met a low cross from Jamaica winger Bailey to register his second goal in the competition.", |
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"A key facet of Villa's game under Emery is playing with bravery, pressing high up the field and they reaped the rewards in Alkmaar.", |
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"It is the sixth time they have scored four or more goals in a game this season and extends their unbeaten streak to five.", |
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"Defensively, Villa do still have some issues to iron out and they were fortunate to end the first half with a clean sheet.", |
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"Greek striker Pavlidis, who scored a hat-trick against Heerenveen at the weekend and has 13 goals in nine Eredivisie appearances this term, was gifted an opportunity just minutes after Villa had gone 2-0 ahead.", |
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"Boubacar Kamara lost the ball on the edge of his own box and Pavlidis with the goal at his mercy inexplicably blazed over the bar.", |
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"Villa were also opened up far too easily when Sadiq scored a consolation and they have just one clean sheet in their last five outings and five all season." |
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