ASTON VILLA kicked off their first ever Champions League campaign with a comfortable win, dedicated to club legend Gary Shaw.
Unai Emery‘s men produced a performance worthy of their sadly departed European Cup-winning striker, who might have been watching over their successful return to the stage he once graced.
First half goals from Youri Tielemans and Jacob Ramsey put Villa in firm command before the break.
And they could even afford the luxury of TWO harshly disallowed goals from Ollie Watkins and Jhon Duran after French VAR Willy Delajod spotted handball offences.
Both appeared to be flawed interventions however as the ball had crashed off Watkins chest first and his goal should have stood – as should Duran’s who was penalised for an Amadou Onana handball SIX passes earlier!
However this was a performance loaded with the energy, speed and opportunistic finishing which were Shaw’s trademarks in his pomp.
Villa’s players and manager Unai Emery wore black armbands to respect their fallen star while their travelling support chanted: “He gets the ball and he scores a goal, Gary, Gary Shaw.”
And there was more joy in the second-half when Onana wrapped up a convincing win to leave Villa fans chanting: “We are top of the league!”
According to local legend, Berthold V, Duke of Zähringen, the founder of Bern, vowed to name the city after the first animal he met on a hunt.
It turned out to be a bear and a bear still features on Bern’s coat of arms.
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Since the 16th century, the city has had a bear pit, the Bärengraben, to house its heraldic animals.
Fortunately, Unai Emery’s men made sure that Young Boys came to a grizzly end here in the Swiss capital as they gave them a bit of a mauling!
Albert Einstein worked out his theory of relativity while living in Bern.
But it didn’t take a genius to work out that Bern were a class below Villa and that this really was a case of men against Young Boys!
Patrick Rahmen’s strugglers are currently rooted to the bottom of the Swiss Super League, winless after six games.
Bern made a spirited start when Emi Martinez was called on to save from Filip Ugrinic and Ebrima Colley, before Colley then rippled the roof of the net with a screamer which had Martinez flapping.
But Villa soon found their feet on Bern’s plastic surface.
Although Jacob Ramsey decided to change his boots after 18 minutes as he tried to get to grips with the game and the dodgy surface!
It turned out he had packed his scoring boots because it was his bizarre goal which gave Villa a two-goal cushion and ended any real threat from the Swiss.
It took Villa until midway through the first half to threaten when Watkins nodded a booming Emi Martinez clearance into John McGinn’s path.
But the marauding Scot’s shot flashed over.
However three minutes later Villa were ahead with a goal straight from the training ground as set-piece coach Austin McPhee earned his corn again.
Lucas Digne played a short corner to McGinn who delivered deep to the back post.
And Youri Tielemans had time to take a touch before blasting the ball low through a sea of bodies into the far corner.
It was Villa‘s first goal at this level for 41 years but 11 minutes later they doubled their advantage as Young Boys imploded.
Morgan Rogers’ low shot was blocked by Zoukrou and the ball fell to Mo Camara whose disastrous pass back was pounced on by Watkins.
However, the striker was felled by goalie David von Ballmoos who clattered him over to concede what appeared a certain penalty.
But with the ball lodged between Watkins legs, Ramsey had the good sense to force it out and tap into the net as Bulgarian ref Georgi Kabakov played a brilliant advantage.
What a pity his French VAR Delajod didn’t do the same.
Instead he stepped in to disallow Watkins’ goal after the England striker smashed a shot off Zoukrou then swept the rebound home – off an arm according to Delajod.
The eagle eyed Frenchman was at it again after the break when he controversially disallowed a goal from sub Jhon Duran.
The Colombian kid took a pass from Ramsey in his stride to bullet hom a low shot from outside the box.
Duran then taunted the ultras behind the goal by standing on the advertising boards to celebrate in front of them.
But the smile was wiped from his face after the VAR disallowed the goal for a handball by Onana – SIX passes BEFORE Duran’s shot.
However Villa had the last word and what a statement it was as Tielemans picked out Amadou Onana who thundered a rocket beyond the bemused Von Ballmoos from 25 yards.
That goal may have been made in Belgium but last night belonged to the memory of a very special Brummie.
