Aston Villa paid the perfect tribute to former striker Gary Shaw as they enjoyed a dream Champions League debut with a 3-0 win at Young Boys.
Villa’s return to the top table of European football was overshadowed by Monday’s death of Shaw, a golden boy of the club’s past success at this level when he helped them to European Cup glory in 1982.
Boss Unai Emery told his current crop before the game to win it for Shaw and they listened as they began life in the modernised competition in style thanks to goals from Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey and Amadou Onana.
It was the ideal start to the revamped 32-team league format, where the top 24 sides have a chance to progress, but perhaps their real introduction to the Champions League will come when they host Bayern Munich in a fortnight.
For now, Villa’s fans, who were watching their side in the Championship just five years ago, are enjoying the journey under Emery as they chanted ‘we are top of the league’.
Young Boys are no strangers to this competition, having beaten Manchester United three years ago, but they came into the game sitting bottom of the Swiss Super League after a winless opening six games.
They did force their Premier League opponents back in the opening 20 minutes, with Ebrima Colley testing Emiliano Martinez with a low shot and Filip Ugrinic firing the rebound wide.
But from then on, it was all Villa and two goals in 11 minutes saw them grasp control.
They took the lead in the 27th minute as Tielemans became the first Villa goalscorer in the top tier of European football since Peter Withe in 1983.
It was a set-piece masterclass as the Belgium international peeled off at the far post from a corner, took down John McGinn’s delivery on his chest and drove home into the far corner.
Ollie Watkins could have made it 2-0 immediately after as he raced clear on goal, but he stuttered and only got a weak shot in under pressure from defenders.
The England striker was involved in Villa’s second as he intercepted a suicidal backpass from Mohamed Ali Camara and took a clattering from goalkeeper David von Ballmoos. Referee Georgi Kabakov played advantage and Ramsey passed into an empty net from three yards.
Watkins thought he had got on the scoresheet during a rampant Villa spell, but his drilled effort was ruled out after VAR spotted a harsh-looking handball in the build-up.
Villa continued to press in the second half with Von Ballmoos producing a flying save to deny Ramsey.
They had another goal disallowed in the 78th minute when Jhon Duran’s sweet finish was ruled out by another handball in the build-up.
The visitors eventually wrapped up the game in the 86th minute when Onana drilled home from 20 yards.
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