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AZ Alkmaar 1-4 Aston Villa: Unai Emery’s side cruise to Conference League victory

Aston Villa sealed a comfortable 4-1 victory over Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar to secure top spot in their Europa Conference League group.

Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins and John McGinn scored the goals. They have now earned back-to-back 4-1 victories.

Jamaican international Bailey opened the scoring in the 13th minute as he controlled a loose ball before angling a shot beyond Matthew Ryan in the Alkmaar goal.

Tielemans doubled the lead ten minutes later as Villa pounced on their Dutch opponents trying to play out from the back.

The Belgian midfielder slotted home for his first goal for Villa since his free transfer this summer.

The Premier League side took a 2-0 lead heading into the half-time break before wrapping up a tidy performance.

In-form striker Ollie Watkins made it three, six minutes into the second half. He tapped in from close range after showing good link-up play to get the move going.

McGinn put Alkmaar to the sword with a fourth as he swept home a cross from Bailey. Ibrahim Sadiq pulled one back, but the damage was done.


Villa are top of Group E, at least until Zrinjski Mostar face Legia Warsaw later tonight.

They are now unbeaten in five games after a stellar start to the season that has seen them rise to fifth in the Premier League.

Villa host Luton Town in the Premier League on Sunday, while Alkmaar will seek redemption when they face NEC Nijmegen in the Eredivisie.

Related TopicsAston Villa Eredivisie Europa Conference League

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