Aston Villa took a major step toward securing Champions League football next season with a 1-0 away win over Bournemouth, courtesy of Ollie Watkins’ record-breaking first-half strike.
Watkins’ goal, his 75th in the Premier League for Villa, made him the club’s all-time leading scorer in the competition. The finish, from a Morgan Rogers cross, was confirmed after a VAR check and proved decisive in a tightly contested encounter at the Vitality Stadium.
The victory guarantees Villa European football next season, though the exact competition, Champions League, Europa League, or Conference League, remains undecided. They climbed into sixth place, level on points with Newcastle and Chelsea, both of whom face off on Sunday with Champions League implications.
“Europe, Europe, we are in the Conference League, Europa League, or Champions League,” said manager Unai Emery to Sky Sports after the game. “We try to get our best dreams in Europe playing in the Champions League again, but there are still matches to play and teams ahead of us.”
It was a typically disciplined display from Emery’s side. Villa disrupted Bournemouth’s rhythm with a stop-start game plan and created the better chances before the break. Marco Asensio struck the post, while Kepa Arrizabalaga made a smart double save to deny Boubacar Kamara and Matty Cash. But Watkins eventually found the breakthrough, etching his name into club history.
Bournemouth attempted to respond after the break, introducing Justin Kluivert, but Villa’s defensive structure held firm. The Cherries turned to their strength at set-pieces, yet Villa, who boast the league’s best defensive record from dead-ball situations, conceding just two all season, stood resolute.
With just a few matches remaining, Villa remain firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish and a return to the Champions League for the first time since 1983.
