Jhon Durán’s bold lob for Aston Villa catches Neuer and Bayern off guard | Champions League

As far as a return to the biggest club’s stage goes, things were going pretty well for Aston Villa, with substitute Jhon Durán casually putting Bayern Munich to bed with a stunning, spontaneous left-footed lob. This was a night that guaranteed a sense of mystique regardless of the result – despite well-documented prizes, it was the hottest ticket in town and when the Champions League anthem filled the air at Villa Park for the first time, the home fanbase opened their ears to open up to take it all in – but few expected Unai Emery’s side to defeat the Bundesliga giants in this manner.

Durán puts together quite a showreel. A first-half goal from Pau Torres was disallowed for offside, but Durán came off the bench to secure Villa’s win, prompting Prince William to cheer from the stands and maintain his 100 percent start to the competition. After 41 years of absence, they seem eager to make up for lost time.

This was the second meeting between these teams, the first notable – with the same result – in the 1982 European Cup final. Appropriately, before the game, the stadium’s loudspeakers played “The Beautiful South’s Rotterdam”, a not-so-subtle reference to Villa’s triumph, which they remember remembered so fondly in these areas. Monchi, Villa’s president of football, and Damian Vidagany, the director of football, spent Tuesday evening rolling back the years with many players from the 1982 squad, including captain Dennis Mortimer. To celebrate Villa’s return to the top of Europe, a new mural featuring Peter Withe, the late Gary Shaw and Emery has been painted on a terraced house at St Peters Court on Holte Road, which flanks the Trinity Road Stand.

This always promised to be an occasion that would awaken emotions and memories. Withes Sieger’s comment was immortalized on a banner which was part of the furniture in the Holte End until it was installed directly opposite the dugouts this season as part of Villa Park’s close-season upgrade. The locals welcomed the guests who had arrived from Bavaria with a warm Brummie before Michael Olise took over the kick-off. “Who the hell are you?” they sang in greeting.

Bayern is of course a six-time winner, a confident opponent and a European superpower. Harry Kane was considered fit enough to lead Bayern’s team after recovering from an ankle problem against Bayer Leverkusen last weekend, but after 22 minutes played the England captain was among the sullen visiting players marching back towards half-time.

Villa’s fans were furious that Torres overtook Manuel Neuer after intercepting Jaden Philogene’s majestic killer strike from a recycled free-kick, only for Jacob Ramsey, who was sent off through injury a few minutes later, to be ruled offside by the VAR. The free kick itself, awarded after Dayot Upamecano knocked down Ollie Watkins, was emblematic of one of the themes of a lively first half. Upamecano looked uncomfortable against Watkins and previously escaped unscathed after being the last defender to clash with the striker.

Kane looked frustrated at the break and was lucky to avoid a yellow card for a clumsy hit on Morgan Rogers just before half-time. Kane was particularly annoyed when, just before the half-hour mark, Serge Gnabry chose to fire a missed shot over from a tight angle rather than attempt to square the ball when Kane had found ground at the back post. Bayern’s best player was Joshua Kimmich, an incomparable operator, but Jamal Musiala came on at halftime.

It was Kimmich who created Bayern’s first opportunity, firing a wonderful cross towards the back post for Gnabry, who tried to play Kane on this occasion but failed. Olise sparked a fine save from Emiliano Martínez after directing a shot towards goal from 20 yards, and for Villa, Rogers and Watkins had their moments. At one point, Rogers picked up the ball on the half-turn and steam-rolled past three black Bayern jerseys before releasing Watkins to his left. Watkins put the ball in the corner, but Alphonso Davies intervened and cleared it to Amadou Onana, whose shot bounced towards Neuer.

The substitution of Musiala at half-time for Kingsley Coman gave Bayern more control. More ball contacts, more probing and Bayern’s first tangible opening in the second half in the 65th minute. Musiala fended off three burgundy and blue jerseys and played a one-two with Kane before his shot was blocked by Torres. A few minutes later, Leroy Sané replaced Olise. On the other hand, Philogene’s direct run caused problems for Konrad Laimer and Rogers continued to occupy space behind Aleksandar Pavlovic at the base of Bayern’s midfield.

Emery, meanwhile, took the unusual step of replacing substitute Ian Maatsen for Leon Bailey, who was struggling to find his rhythm. A more typical Villa change followed in the 70th minute: Durán replaced Watkins, while Villa looked for another timely appearance from their super substitute. Of course it arrived, and so casually. Torres beamed a pass to the 20-year-old, who got close enough to Upamecano to get his bearings before firing a bouncing ball over a free-standing Neuer. Durán’s tally now stands at six goals from nine games this season. Villa fans won’t soon forget this unerring strike, just as they won’t remember Withe’s in 1982.