Legia Warsaw 3-2 Aston Villa: Unai Emery left fuming as sloppy visitors are handed rude awakening on long-awaited return to European stage

Those Aston Villa fans feeling confident enough to book hotel rooms in Athens for next May’s Europa Conference League final should probably check out the free cancellation option.

Given Unai Emery’s four Europa League titles and impressive work at Villa, his team were among the favorites for this competition – but Legia Warsaw made a mockery of those predictions by sending the ragged visitors to defeat in their opening match amid chaos in the municipal stadium. .

Emery made five changes and this result could leave him questioning whether he has the squad to compete in four competitions as Villa have performed poorly at the back and in midfield. They simply could not contain Legia’s young striker Ernest Muci, who has scored twice and looks an exciting prospect.

The home team led twice in the first half through Pawel Wszolek and Muci, but were beaten back by goals from Jhon Duran and Lucas Digne. Villa were fortunate to be level at half-time but failed to make the most of their breakaway. Muci scored again six minutes after the restart and a third comeback did not follow, even though Emery used all five substitutes.

“We had some good moments and some really bad moments, and in our worst moments they scored,” Emery said. ‘Our reaction in the second half was not the same as in the first; we only created chances in the last five minutes.

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‘Everything that happened tonight I have experienced before in European football. I want to watch the match again to see how we do when we play in Europe.

‘I believe in this team. We have to put together a squad that can play in four competitions. It is difficult with players like Tyrone Mings and Emiliano Buendia injured, but we have to rebuild with the players we have. We must learn from this. With a different XI we could still have lost this match.”

Emery’s new formation didn’t click and Legia quickly moved forward. In a deafening atmosphere, Patryk Kun broke free on the left and crossed for his other full-back to send the ball in via the far post.

The lead lasted only three minutes. Nicolo Zaniolo’s 25-yard rocket hit the bar and Duran headed into an empty net.

Despite the equalizer, Villa could not settle. Wszolek’s cross hit Digne and fell perfectly for Muci, who restored Legia’s lead from ten yards. Moments later, Muci sped past Ezri Konsa and tumbled under his challenge, with Konsa relieved that the game continued.

Konsa centre-back Clement Lenglet felt uncomfortable on his Villa debut. Marc Gual drifted past him and forced Emiliano Martinez into a sharp stop – although Villa equalized two minutes later. Digne hit his angled volley well and Kacper Tobiasz was helpless as a deflection took it past him.

Villa had been outgunned for most of the half and then had two big chances to take the lead. Leon Bailey led wide and Duran was denied by Tobiasz from eight meters.

Villa should have regrouped but they were punished after the restart when the impressive Muci canceled them out again. Digne gave the ball away and when Gual found his fellow striker in space, Muci sprinted past Konsa and Calum Chambers and scored from the post.

Emery made a triple substitution on the hour mark, but it was Legia who looked more dangerous. Martinez fumbled a 25-yard attempt from Bartosz Slisz, forcing Chambers to hack away.

Two of Villa’s substitutes, Matty Cash and the fit-again Jacob Ramsey, created a late chance, with Ramsey firing wide from 20 yards as Cash’s strike deflected into his path. Cash then played in another substitute, Moussa Diaby, but Tobiasz blocked and deep into injury time Youri Tielemans hit the side netting. Villa had woken up too late and Legia held on.