The difference in quality between Aston Villa and AZ Alkmaar was made clear by Leon Bailey’s superb first goal as Unai Emery’s team sailed to a 4-1 Europa Conference League victory in the Netherlands.
That is, at least, Kenneth Perez’s perspective. On a one-sided night in Alkmaar, the former AZ icon emphasized the significant differences between the hosts and their expensively assembled, masterfully coached visitors.
Leon Bailey, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, and John McGinn all scored goals as Aston Villa easily defeated one of the best Dutch football sides, with Ibrahim Sadiq’s incredible comeback completing the scoring.
Bailey’s first goal, which came just before AZ hero Vangelis Pavlidis coughed at a goal, set the tone early for Perez. The £35 million acquisition from Bayer Leverkusen thumped into the bottom corner comparable chance.
Aston Villas pass AZ Alkmaar on their way
“Aston Villa is just plainly more capable than Arizona.” They play more quickly. During his playing career, Perez also played for Ajax, PSV Eindhoven, and FC Twente. He tells ESPN that this is what separates these teams.
“Villa is just able to complete tasks more quickly, whereas AZ takes too long. While AZ does not penalize them, Aston Villa does. In comparison to AZ, everything that Aston Villa does is done faster and with more force.
Like Bailey’s shot, for example. Isn’t that (in contrast to) what happens when you watch Pavlidis’ shot later very powerful?
Villa is set off by Leon Bailey
Top scorer for Arizona and one of the best forwards in Europe, Pavlidis, absolved Villa of any responsibility.
a couple of times in the first-half, the Midland giants ruthlessly punishing the hosts for their profligacy.
Aston Villa have now scored four goals in two successive games. They have found the net more than three times in a match eight times so far in 2023/24 too.
Tielemans, much-criticised since his summer arrival from Leicester, produced his finest display for his new club in Alkmaar. All poise and purpose. Diego Carlos and Clement Lenglet staked their claim in rare starts at the back meanwhile, as Boubacar Kamara, Lucas Digne and Matty Cash offered another reminder of their progress under Emery.
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