Aston Villa 1-0 Fulham: Tielemans keeps hosts in hunt for Champions League spot

Aston Villa kept themselves firmly successful the contention for Champions League qualification aft edging retired Fulham 1-0 successful the Premier League connected Saturday.

Youri Tielemans’ almighty header from a country successful the 12th infinitesimal proved decisive astatine Villa Park, wherever Fulham’s ain European aspirations were perchance dented somewhat.

The Belgian besides came adjacent to a 2nd connected the changeable of half-time. His effort from scope was bending successful earlier Bernd Leno, astatine full-stretch, tipped it wide.

Fulham thought they had restored parity conscionable 5 minutes aft the break, but Ryan Sessegnon’s volleyed equaliser was disallowed. The shot bounced up against his limb earlier helium deed the shot, with the referee cutting their celebrations short.

The Cottagers failed to physique connected that momentum, contempt half-chances for Harry Wilson and Joachim Andersen, though they were fortunate not to suffer by more.

After bursting successful down Ollie Watkins’ backline, helium was denied by Leno’s outstretched leg, portion Donyell Malen fired wide from precise adjacent scope earlier rattling the crossbar heavy successful stoppage time.

Villa stay seventh connected extremity difference, having moved to 60 points, level with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, who play connected Sunday and Monday, respectively. Fulham enactment eighth connected 51, but are successful information of slipping further down the standings by the extremity of the weekend.

Three points secured. Nine near to combat for. pic.twitter.com/AYS4bWKNLn

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) May 3, 2025

Data Debrief: Villa amusement disconnected set-piece prowess

In a archetypal fractional of fewer chances, Villa’s set-pieces proved to beryllium their champion chances of a goal, and Tielemans surely took his.

John McGinn, making his 200th Premier League appearance, curled successful the country for Tielemans. Only Arsenal and Crystal Palace (both 16) person scored much specified goals (excluding penalties) successful the contention than Villa (15) this season.

It was besides Tielemans’ 10th extremity engagement of the play (three goals, 7 assists), his joint-most successful a azygous run successful the Premier League (also successful 2020-21 and 2021-22).

Villa are present unbeaten successful their past 17 location games successful the Premier League (W10 D7), their joint-longest tally successful the competition, besides doing truthful betwixt March and December 2023 (W16 D1).