Aston Villa secured a decisive 4-0 victory over Bournemouth at Villa Park, marking a return to form after their previous defeat to Liverpool. Antoine Semenyo missed a crucial penalty for Bournemouth in the second
half. This loss marked Bournemouth's second consecutive Premier League defeat, following their earlier loss to Manchester City.
Emiliano Buendia opened the scoring for Villa with an impressive free-kick in the 28th minute. His shot from around 20 yards out curled over the wall and into the top corner. Amadou Onana extended Villa's lead before halftime with a powerful low strike. Alex Scott nearly brought Bournemouth back into contention with a looping shot, but Emiliano Martinez made a remarkable fingertip save.
Evanilson hit the post with a header shortly after, and Bournemouth had another chance when Morgan Rogers was penalised for handball. However, Martinez guessed correctly to save Semenyo's weak penalty attempt, maintaining Villa's clean sheet. Substitutes Ross Barkley and Donyell Malen added further goals to secure an emphatic win.
Barkley scored with a header from Lucas Digne's corner, while Malen redirected Youri Tielemans' driven strike into the net. This commanding performance highlighted Villa's attacking prowess and defensive resilience throughout the match.
What. A. Sunday.
Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial)
Buendia has now netted three goals in his last five Premier League matches for Villa, surpassing his tally from his previous 35 league appearances combined. His free-kick was also Villa's first direct free-kick goal in the Premier League since John McGinn scored against Manchester United on Boxing Day 2023.
Despite being previously sidelined at Villa, Buendia showcased his current form by creating two chances and leading his team with three shots. His clinical long-range finishing contributed significantly to Villa outperforming their expected goals (xG) of 1.33.
Bournemouth generated an xG of 2.0, largely due to Semenyo's missed penalty opportunity. The match demonstrated both teams' attacking capabilities but highlighted Villa's superior execution on the day.
Villa's comprehensive victory over Bournemouth not only boosted their confidence but also underscored their potential in the league this season. The team's ability to capitalise on key moments and maintain defensive solidity was evident throughout this encounter.
