Aston Villa kicked off their Champions League debut in style following their comfortable 3-0 victory over Young Boys at the Stade de Suisse Wankdor in Bern.
In memory of former striker Gary Shaw, who died on Monday at 63 after a fall, Villa manager Unai Emery pushed his players to win in Bern.
Shaw’s terrible death was especially poignant because he helped Villa stun Bayern Munich in the 1982 European Cup final.
Villa’s training ground has a photo of Shaw celebrating Peter Withe’s winner against Bayern, and the team donned black armbands in their Champions League opener in honour of him.
Youri Tielemans scored against Young Boys in Shaw’s number eight shirt and celebrated by pointing to it.
Jacob Ramsey scored Villa’s second goal before halftime and Amadou Onana scored the third in the final minutes as Emery’s side won after 40 years.
“Of course we want to dedicate this victory to Gary Shaw, his family and all of the Aston Villa family,” Emery said.
“Forty-two years (ago) they achieved winning the Champions League. We want to try and follow what that team achieved.”
Last season’s Premier League fourth place surprised Villa into the Champions League.
They face Bayern Munich and Juventus in their final seven league matches.
Villa fans will always remember this cathartic triumph because Emery replaced Steven Gerrard in 2022 and brought them back to relevance.
Villa were in the English second tier five years ago, with only the most optimistic fans dreaming of confronting Europe’s top.
The Villa fans in a corner of the Wankdorf Stadium cheered when the tournament hymn was played before kickoff, anticipating their first Champions League match since 1983.
Prince William, a Villa fan, sent Emery’s players a good luck message before their “European adventure” and they answered with a well-drilled display on the Wankdorf’s hazardous artificial field.
“We were adapting at the beginning to the plastic pitch, it’s very different,” Emery said.
“It’s very important how we got the win, by respecting the opponent and being responsible. We were mature, organised and imposing throughout the game.”
By flying to Bern early to train at the stadium on Monday, the fastidious Emery improved Villa’s preparations.
Villa led in the 27th minute after a superb short corner routine.
John McGinn crossed to the unmarked Tielemans on the far side after Lucas Digne passed.
From 12 yards, the Belgian midfielder calmly fired into the bottom corner through a crowd.
Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee punched the air in delight at his successful design, while Tielemans celebrated the club’s first Champions League goal since their 1983 quarter-final elimination to Juventus.
An surprise gift from the hosts extended Villa’s lead in the 38th minute.
Mohamed Ali Camara strangely passed back to David von Ballmoos deep in his own area, despite Watkins immediately pressing the Young Boys keeper.
Von Ballmoos’ desperate challenge knocked Watkins down, and Ramsey scored from close range on the loose ball.
Villa coasted through the second half, with Onana scoring a 20-yard shot past Von Ballmoos in the 86th minute.
