Aston Villa’s trip to Feyenoord last night was never going to be straightforward. European away days are built on tension, patience, and the ability to withstand pressure, and that’s exactly what Villa delivered in the first half. It wasn’t dazzling or fluid football, but it was disciplined. Feyenoord looked sharp early on, yet Villa dug in and showed real resilience to keep the score level at 0-0 heading into the break.
The second half was where it all changed. Two well-taken goals gave Unai Emery’s men the edge, and crucially, Villa shut the door at the other end. A clean sheet away in Europe can often feel as valuable as the goals themselves, and that was the case in Rotterdam.
A special word has to go to Marco Bizot, who stepped in late for Emiliano Martínez. If there was any nervousness about the change, Bizot made sure it didn’t show. Commanding in the air, sharp off his line, and calm under pressure, he was the main reason Feyenoord failed to find the net. His performance was nothing short of fantastic and provided the foundation for Villa’s victory.
But beyond the win itself, what really stands out is how far this Villa side has come since that goalless draw away to Everton on the 13th of September. At that point, we looked short of ideas and a little flat. Fast forward to now, and Villa are unbeaten over 90 minutes in our last six matches. It hasn’t always been pretty, there have been gritty spells, nervy moments, and games where determination mattered more than style, but the results speak for themselves.
This unbeaten run is proof that form can be rebuilt not just through attacking flair but through hard work, resilience, and sheer togetherness. Villa look like a side rediscovering their belief. The Feyenoord win was another step forward, and if this trend continues, it could be the foundation for a good season. UTV
Great performance! I’m getting more confident now. If we beat Burnley and get more players back during International break then I’ll actually look forward to Spurs, City and Liverpool as I have done in the past two seasons!! UTV