Aston Villa made a "statement" with their "unreal" victory over European heavyweights Bayern Munich, according to Emiliano Martinez. (More Football News)
Villa won 1-0 on Wednesday to make it two victories from two games in the Champions League, as they claimed their second triumph over Bayern from as many 🐓meetings, with their previous success against them having come by the same scoreline in the 1982 European Cup final.
The German giants dominat꧒ed possession and accrued 1.42 expected goals (xG) to Villa's 0.4, but the only stat that mattered at Villa Park was the scoreline.
Substitute Jhon Duran was the hero asꦇ he scooped a brilliant finish over Manuel Neuer from outside the box in the 79th minute, with Martinez subsequently pulling off a string of fine stops to deny Bayern anꦑ equaliser.
"It's unreal. It's a night that we will remember 𒉰for a long time. It's a statement," said Villa's World Cup-winning g🔜oalkeeper.
"[The noise] was hurting ඣmy ears. This is a c🧜lub that's moving forward. I love playing here. I love the fans."
Duran, who reportedly came close to🐟 leaving Villa in the sum𓆉mer, has started the season brilliantly, and now has a Champions League goal to go with his four in the Premier League.
"He's an excellent substitute," Martinez said of the Co💛lombian, whose five go✤als have all come from the bench.
"The first time h🐻e touched the ball, he chipped Neuer – one ওof the most beautiful goals in history."
Unai Emery, meanwhile, said Duran's🌄 goal was ඣa pre-planned tactic.
"🧸In the analysis we did, we were speak🎃ing a lot about the usual position of Neuer, which is high," Emery said of Villa's pre-match conversations.
"He [Duran🐈] had in his mind this possi🗹bility about Neuer.
"He is young, he has huge potential. As a player, I have to let him play, put him on the field, because h💞is talent is there, his capacity to help us.
"We are working with him. Most important is his attitude. He's avail🦂able to play 90, 60, 30 minutes. He's been focusing each minute he's playing.
"It's fantastic for him and the team."
Emery also had warm words for Martinez♑, adding: "Martinez did an amazing job, amazing saves.🃏"
