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Aston Villa maintained his hopes of an end of the Premier League among the top five firmly after a goal by Youri Tielemans proved to be the difference against Fulham in Villa Park.
Tielemans went from a corner of John McGinn in 12 minutes to ensure that Osai Emery’s side moved in points with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest on the table.
They were three vital points for the Emery team, which seek to return to the Champions League after their career to the last eight this season, but the hosts lost several good opportunities to put the contest in bed in what was a nervous afternoon for local fans.
The defeat for Fulham, meanwhile, may well have reduced its dreams of European football the next period. Marco Silva’s team is currently in Eighth, but the result means that they are now eight points to drift from Villa in the seventh place.
Three insured points. Nine left to fight. 👊 pic.twitter.com/ays4bwknln
– Aston Villa (@avfcoficial) May 3, 2025
Villa starts in a crucial game
Villa surpassed the opening exchanges, apparently intentions to present his disappointing Wembley in the 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in the semifinal of the FA Cup firmly behind them.
And in 12 minutes, the hosts were advanced when from the cozy corner of McGinn, the header of Tielemans could only be pushed to the roof of the network by Bernd Leno, causing jubilation of the home supporters.
The Belgian midfielder again approached shortly before part time with an effort from a distance, but this time Leno was present to bow the ball.
Hosts of waste possibilities while visitors become a game
Immediately after the restart, the hosts lost the first of several good opportunities to double their advantage.
Ezri Konsa found Matty Cash and the full-back delivered a great ball for an unproof Ollie Watkins inside the box. But the man in England could not put anything on the cross and a glorious opportunity was wasted.
Aston Villa leads early!
Youri Tielemans scores with a powerful header in the 12th minute, after a quality corner of John McGinn 💥
📺 @tntsports AND @Discoveryplusuk pic.twitter.com/b0Cyqr22bz
– Soccer in TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 3, 2025
Five minutes later, Fulham had the ball in the back of the Villa Network courtesy of Ryan Sessegnon, but the goal was ruled out for handball.
Visitors, who only follow Liverpool and Manchester City for most of the points won for losing positions in the league this term, became the contest.
Harry Wilson wasted a couple of promising opportunities before Watkins had another good opportunity to double Villa’s leadership, but Leno was the same.
A very signed end
With less than a remaining quarter, the cash was blocked well to deny what seemed to be a certain equalizer of Joachim Andersen.
At the other extreme, Donyell Malen was the next culprit of a lost opportunity when Leno saved again.
Fulham was forced to finish the game with ten men when Harrison Reed limited after Silva had already made five substitutions.
He seemed to encapsulate the afternoon of the visitors, since his hopes of ensuring a European place gave a significant dent in their trips.
However, for Villa, the dream of a second consecutive season in the Champions League seems to return at the same time.
