BirminghamWorld reporter Charlie Haffenden reacts to Aston Villa 2-0 Bologna in the UEFA Champions League, as goals from John McGinn and Jhon Duran soar Unai Emery's men to the top of the league phase standings.
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00:00Aston Villa have soared to the top of the UEFA Champions League standings, that's right top out of 32 teams in the newly formed competition after tonight's 2-0 win over Bologna here at Villa Park.
00:14Another packed out crowd under the lights in Birmingham and a fantastic evening for Unai Emery's men who have not conceded a single goal in any of their three opening matches in this competition.
00:25Of course the win away young boys to start things off, the famous 1-0 victory over Bayern Munich here at Villa Park and then rounding off with a comfortable 2-0 victory against Bologna as well.
00:36Of course there are five games to go, Villa fans can't get too excited just yet but there is a feeling around this club that they may finish in the top eight which would be an incredible achievement and of course would skip two matches if they were to go into the play-off round finishing in the top 24.
00:53A fantastic achievement tonight, it was the expected result, you have to say for Villa to win, they were definitely the favourites but still a tough match and against the Bologna side who were aggressive from the outset.
01:03They were full of confidence, they believed that if they could press high up the field on the transition they could create something and they did in that first half.
01:11Vincenzo Italiano's side did look pretty dangerous on the transition but Villa's offside trap proved too effective for the Italian team and Emiliano Martinez another solid performance between the sticks making four or five routine saves to keep another clean sheet.
01:27I think that's very satisfying for Unai Emery not to concede a goal at all in this competition but even more satisfying for what they call the world's number one, I believe he is the World Cup winner Martinez.
01:38The goals tonight, one from John McGinn on his full return after his hamstring injury, a whipped free kick from wide potentially across will give him the benefit of the doubt.
01:47Ended up nestling into the far corner and then John Duran the man of the moment getting his first Champions League start of the season scoring a fantastic goal, a delicate volley from a Morgan Rodgers cross.
01:58Rodgers did really well to recycle the ball after it went out onto the left-hand side, we thought it was kind of out of play, out of range for an attack but Rodgers had other ideas.
02:07Clipping a ball into the box, perfectly weighted and Duran, his technique is second to none for a 20-year-old, he looks so composed, so mature.
02:15Maybe not mature with his off-field antics as when he was substituted he was whacking the seats in front of him but in terms of his goal scoring ability Aston Villa fans won't care what Duran's off-field antics are.
02:27Such a passionate, unique forward is the Colombian getting another goal, I believe his seventh of the season in all competitions to round off what was a fine victory for Aston Villa under the lights.
02:38You've got to dare to dream I think if you're an Aston Villa fan.
02:41In that top eight, secured in first place, some tough fixtures to go against Bruges, Juventus, RB Leipzig, the likes of AS Monaco as well but I think the belief is here around the stadium.
02:52Unai Emery certainly believes in his team, the structure, it's all working so, so well and the atmosphere here at Villa Park is absolutely rocking.