In the 3rd round of Europa League, Aston Villa surprisingly lost to DVV Go Ahead Eagles away.
2025/2026 UEFA Europa League
2-1
Match Report
Aston Villa's perfect start to the Europa League stalled with a historic 2-1 defeat to Go Ahead Eagles, as they failed to extend their impressive winning run to six consecutive games.
Unai Emery's side opened the scoring inside just four minutes, as Jadon Sancho's parried cross fell into the path of Evann Guessand, who shinned it past Jari De Busser.
The Dutch side restored parity just before the break, as a well-worked free-kick routine dropped to Mathis Suray, whose resulting effort took a deflection off Pau Torres, before looping over a helpless Emiliano Martinez.
After the interval, the hosts stunned Villa, as a straightforward ball over the top from Joris Kramer found captain Mats Deijl unmarked in the box, who picked his spot, gifting his side an unlikely lead.
However, Villa's pressure eventually paid, and in the 76th minute they were awarded a penalty, after Dean James handled the ball inside Go Ahead's box.
Yet, the defender's blushes were spared when the in-form Emiliano Buendia sent the subsequent spot-kick blazing over the crossbar, with Villa unable to find an equaliser from there on.
Data Debrief: Clinical Eagles end Villa's unbeaten Dutch record in Europe
This was Villa's first defeat to a Dutch opponent in European competition, having gone unbeaten in all six of their previous major continental matches against sides from the Netherlands before Thursday's meeting.
The result also marked Villa's third defeat in 16 European group stage matches (W11 D2), conceding for the first time in this season's competition, despite Go Ahead posting an expected goals (xG) total of just 0.83 compared to their 2.4.
Despite recording their lowest number of shots in a Europa League match this term (five), Go Ahead Eagles were clinical in front of goal, as they netted twice, earning back-to-back victories in Europe (including qualifiers) for the first time in their history.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
4' GOAL! DVV Go Ahead 0-1 Aston Villa (Evann Guessand)
9' Highlight from DVV Go Ahead vs Aston Villa
15' Match Event for DVV Go Ahead vs Aston Villa
30' Highlight from DVV Go Ahead vs Aston Villa
42' GOAL! DVV Go Ahead 1-1 Aston Villa (Mathis Suray)
63' GOAL! DVV Go Ahead 2-1 Aston Villa (Mats Deijl)
79' Penalty Missed! (Emiliano Buendía)
Line-ups
DVV Go Ahead XI: Gerrit Nauber, Joris Kramer, Mats Deijl, Jari De Busser, Melle Meulensteen, Mathis Suray, Richonell Margaret, Dean James, Jakob Breum, Milan Smit, Yassir Salah Rahmouni
Subs: Finn Stokkers, Luca Plogmann, Kenzo Goudmijn, Evert Linthorst, Julius Dirksen, Oskar Sivertsen, Calvin Twigt, Giovanni van Zwam, Aske Adelgaard, Robbin Weijenberg, Nando Verdoni, Ofosu Boakye
Aston Villa XI: E. Martinez, Lindelof, Mings, Ollie Watkins, Buendia, P. Torres, Sancho, Evann Guessand, Amadou Onana, Maatsen, Lamare Bogarde
Subs: Marco Bizot, McGinn, Kamara, Ngoyo, Matty Cash, Malen, Morgan Rogers, Elliott, Sam Proctor, Bradley Burrowes