Aston Villa earned a 2-0 Europa League win over Maccabi Tel Aviv with goals from Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen on a tense night at Villa Park.
Aston Villa claimed a crucial 2-0 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Europa League on Thursday night. Goals from Ian Maatsen and Donyell Malen secured three points for Unai Emery’s side, who moved up to sixth in the league phase standings.
The match took place amid heightened security at Villa Park, with more than 700 police officers deployed outside due to planned protests. Visiting supporters were not allowed to attend following a safety directive from Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group.
Despite the tension surrounding the fixture, Villa’s focus remained on football. Emery made five changes to the side that lost 2-0 at Liverpool, with Jadon Sancho, Donyell Malen, and Victor Lindelof among those recalled to the starting eleven.
The hosts struggled to find rhythm early on and could easily have trailed when Dor Peretz fired straight at Emiliano Martínez from close range. Maccabi also went close through Osher Davida, whose deflected effort missed the post by inches.
Villa finally broke the deadlock just before the break. Morgan Rogers and Jadon Sancho combined neatly down the left, setting up Maatsen to score from an acute angle via the underside of the bar. The goal gave Villa the edge after a frustrating first half.
Emery’s men continued to control possession but were nearly pegged back early in the second period when Peretz again failed to convert, Martínez saving smartly to preserve the lead.
The decisive moment came just before the hour mark. Stand-in captain Ezri Konsa was brought down by Elad Madmon, and Malen calmly slotted the resulting penalty into the bottom corner for his second Europa League goal of the campaign.
It was Villa’s third penalty in the competition this season, with Malen succeeding where Ollie Watkins and Emi Buendia had previously failed. Substitute Youri Tielemans later came close to adding a third, forcing a fine save from Roei Mishpati after a pinpoint through ball.
Maatsen’s first-half strike was his first goal since April and came at a crucial time for Villa, who had looked short of inspiration. Malen’s composed finish ensured the victory, while Martínez produced two vital stops to deny Peretz.
Amadou Onana also stood out, his energy and link-up play driving Villa forward whenever they seemed sluggish. Konsa’s leadership at the back helped Villa secure their second clean sheet in the Europa League this season.
Aston Villa return to Premier League action on Saturday when they host Bournemouth at Villa Park. They will then face Leeds United away after the international break on November 23rd. Villa’s next continental duties will be on November 27th when they host Swiss side Young Boys.
Maccabi Tel Aviv resume Israeli Premier League duties against Beitar Jerusalem on Sunday before hosting Lyon in their next Europa League fixture on November 27th.
