The current third-placed team in the Premier League, already firmly in the round of 16, responded with goals from Morgan Rogers (64th), Tyrone Mings (76th) and Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba (87th). What is particularly bitter for Salzburg is the fact that, thanks to the help they needed, a 2-0 win would have been enough for promotion.
The most difficult opponent at the end could be used as the motto for Salzburg. The seven-time English champion wants to be involved in the Premier League title race this year. The goal is clearly the Champions League – if necessary also by winning the title in the Europa League. Before kick-off, coach Unai Emery emphasized that they wanted to show “how important the competition is for us”. However, he changed his team, with Rogers, the most valuable player in the squad, sitting on the bench for the time being. Emery currently has to adapt in midfield due to injury.
Salzburg misses the play-off, Sturm wins
After a 2-0 lead against Aston Villa, Salzburg ended up losing the game 2-3. The dream of promotion to the Europa League play-off remained unfulfilled. Meanwhile, Sturm Graz celebrated a 1-0 home win against Brann Bergen.
Salzburg with Konate and luck at the beginning
With the Salzburg team, who are dependent on three points, Konate started again for the first time since his cruciate ligament tear in November 2024. The Ivorian, called up to replace the ill Yorbe Vertessen, has only had just over half an hour of playing time in his legs this season. Otherwise, Letsch relied on the team that had recently impressed against FC Basel.
In the time-honored Villa Park, Salzburg had their first moment of shock after just 30 seconds. Alexander Schlager let a long-range shot ricochet, Harvey Elliott was there, Schlager made the save with reflex and luck with the sole of his foot. The guests quickly shook it off and were able to launch dangerous advances. World champion Emiliano Martinez in Villa’s goal had to make his first appearance in the 20th minute. Soumaila Diabete shot too centrally towards the Argentine, and Martinez also parried Konate’s follow-up shot.
Gift for the Salzburg tour
Villa responded with a period of pressure, but Salzburg’s young back four closed the space in front of Schlager. Villa’s noble fan Prince William finally saw how Salzburg rewarded themselves for their strong performance with the help of their opponents. In Salzburg’s pressing, the experienced Tyrone Mings allowed the ball to be stolen amateurishly by Edmund Baidoo in his own penalty area, and Konate scored with some trepidation. At Villa, center forward Ollie Watkins had to leave the field injured and Rogers came into the game. Apart from that chance in the first minute, Villa hardly found anything in the Salzburg penalty area until the break. The home crowd seemed dismayed with the half-time whistle.
It was over for the goalscorer at halftime. Konate remained injured in the dressing room, Yeo took over. Looking at the other results, Salzburg lacked additional goals in addition to appropriate shooting help to make it into the top 24. Letsch’s “Joker” should sting quickly. Yeo used his heel after Karim Alajbegovic’s cross pass, Villa’s defense was just a spectator.
Villa turns things around at the end
But Rogers’ individual class brought Villa back. The English international initiated his own goal and calmly finished the goal. The audience woke up, the Emery team stepped up and suddenly seemed transformed. Salzburg faltered a lot – and conceded the equalizer a quarter of an hour before the end.
Mings, who moved up after a corner, got to the ball before Schlager with his head and corrected his mistake. Villa were not satisfied and continued to push. Substitute Jimoh-Aloba turned things around with his first goal for Villa. Salzburg finished the league phase in 31st place with six defeats.
Voices about the game:
Thomas Letsch (Salzburg coach): “We are of course disappointed, we were close. When I see that we are the same or better in all statistics. We are leading 2-0 and have a great chance of making it 3-0. The goals conceded are annoying, you go home without a point and are out. That hurts. But the performance makes me proud. We weren’t eliminated because of the game today.”
Alexander Schlager (Salzburg goalkeeper): “We can be proud, especially of how the first 50 minutes were, in which we forced them to make mistakes non-stop. Where we created a lot of chances to score and were very, very good defensively. That will be the approach for the next few weeks, even if it’s a shame at the moment. Nevertheless, you can’t blame us for anything, except that in one situation or another it went a little too easily.”
Europa League, eighth round
Thursday:
Aston Villa – Salzburg 3:2 (0:1)
Birmingham, Villa Park, 37,457 spectators, SR Saggi (NOR)
Mass:
0:1 Known (33.)
0:2 Yeo (49.)
1:2 Rogers (64.)
2:2 Mings (76.)
3:2 Jimoh-Aloba (87.)
Aston Villa: Martinez – Bogarde, Lindelöf, Mings, Digne – Onana (66./Konsa), Hemmings (46./Cash) – Sancho (78./Young), Elliott, Buendia (66./Jimoh-Aloba) – Watkins (35./Rogers)
Salzburg: Schlager – Trummer, Gadou, Schuster, Krätzig – Bidstrup, Diabate (89./Lukic) – Kitano (89./Kjaergaard), Alajbegovic (73./Bischoff) – Baidoo (73./Onisiwo), Konate (46./Yeo)
Yellow card: Trummer
