Key Takeaways:
- Aston Villa secured a 2:0 away victory over Feyenoord in the second round of the Europa League main phase
- Emiliano Buendía and John McGinn scored to continue their run of three goals in the last two league matches
- Feyenoord suffered a consecutive defeat after losing 0:1 to Braga last week
Match Overview and Controversial Decisions
Aston Villa travelled to Rotterdam and claimed a 2:0 win against Feyenoord in one of the standout fixtures of the Europa League main phase’s second round. The visitors capitalised on decisive performances from Emiliano Buendía and captain John McGinn, who had already played key roles in Villa’s recent 1:0 win over Bologna and 3:1 victory over Fulham.
The match was marked by contentious refereeing decisions. In the 13th minute, Anel Ahmedhodžić brought down a surging Oli Watkins just outside the penalty area. Referee Rade Obrenović consulted VAR for a possible red card, but ultimately maintained the yellow card ruling, arguing Ahmedhodžić was not the last defender.
Aston Villa take all three points against Feyenoord as John McGinn scores for the third game in a row! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2CunC1CiuW
— OneFootball (@OneFootball) October 2, 2025
Further controversy emerged in the 31st minute when Feyenoord believed they had broken the deadlock through Ayase Ueda, only for the goal to be disallowed due to a foul by Tsuyoshi Watanabe on Matty Cash during the preceding corner.
Second-Half Action and Decisive Goals
The deadlock remained intact early in the second half, with Feyenoord coming agonisingly close in the 52nd minute as Evan Guessand’s effort struck the post. However, Villa capitalised in the 61st minute when Boubacar Kamara fed Buendía, who produced a precise finish from the edge of the penalty area to open the scoring.
Aston Villa cemented their advantage in the 79th minute. Substitute Donyell Malen drove forward and, although initially dispossessed, the ball fell for McGinn, who fired home to secure the result.
Current Standings and Recent Form
With this 2:0 victory, Aston Villa collected their second consecutive win in the tournament, building on last week’s triumph over Bologna. In contrast, Feyenoord endured another setback following their 0:1 defeat to Braga.
