Juventus, Aston Villa register convincing wins in CL returns

September 18, 2024

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Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz (centre) celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Champions League first phase match between Juventus and PSV Eindhoven at the Juventus stadium in Turin, Italy yesterday.

ROME (AP):

Juventus missed one season. Aston Villa hadn't competed in 41 years.

Both sides hardly missed a beat in their Champions League (CL) returns yesterday in the debut of the competition's new format.

Nineteen-year-old Kenan Yildiz broke Alessandro Del Piero's record and became Juventus' youngest scorer in Europe's top club competition during a 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven.

New Juventus coach Thiago Motta earned a victory in his Champions League coaching debut after leading Bologna to qualification last season.

Villa won 3-0 at Young Boys while mourning the death a day earlier of 1982 European Cup winner Gary Shaw.

During the league phase, all 36 teams will be ranked from top to bottom in a single standings that finishes in January. Villa and Juventus moved immediately to the top with three points each.

Yildiz the youngest

Yildiz's goal after 21 minutes was the first of the revamped competition. And what a goal it was.

The Turkey winger dribbled into the left side of the box and curled in a long shot off the far, top corner of the goal frame.

At 19 years and 136 days, Yildiz broke the club record that Del Piero established when he scored at 20 years and 308 days against Borussia Dortmund in September 1995.

With a goal reminiscent of the way Del Piero used to score, it seemed fitting that Yildiz was wearing the same No 10 that Del Piero wore for Juventus.

United States international Weston McKennie doubled Juve's advantage after being left unmarked to score from the centre of the box on a play started by Nico Gonzalez.

Then after the break, Gonzalez was also left unmarked to finish off a counterattack.

Ismael Saibari scored for PSV in stoppage time.

Emery's impact

Under experienced coach Unai Emery, Villa have won three of their four Premier League matches and were in control virtually throughout at Young Boys.

Youri Tielemans put Villa ahead with a bouncing shot midway through the first half and Jacob Ramsey doubled the lead 11 minutes later by taking advantage of a loose ball. Amadou Onana sealed it four minutes from time.