Aston Villa 0-0 Juventus: Unai Emery's side held to frustrating goalless draw with Juventus in the Champions League

Match report as Aston Villa and Juventus draw in the Champions League; Lucas Digne struck the woodwork with a free-kick; late Morgan Rogers goal disallowed; Villa have now gone seven games without a win across all competitions

Thursday 28 November 2024 09:06, UK

Morgan Rogers saw a late winner disallowed for Aston Villa as Unai Emery's side were held to a frustrating goalless draw with Juventus in the Champions League.

Emery, who is now enduring his longest stretch without a win as Villa boss since taking over from Steven Gerrard in 2022, labelled the decision to rule the goal out as "strange" during his post-match press conference.

The Villa boss echoed the confusion that spread around the stadium, as the referee appeared to allow the goal after it nestled into the back of the net - before changing his mind and whistling for a foul on Michele Di Gregorio following a lengthy pause.

"You know and everybody knows, in England it is different. The interpretation would be no foul. In Europe it is different," Emery said when asked about the decision after the game.

"When we are in the Premier League, it is different. In Europe you have to accept it.

"In the beginning I was thinking he gave the goal. When he changed, it was a bit strange. In cases like that, there is confusion."

How Villa were left frustrated

Lucas Digne came closest to opening the scoring after his free-kick grazed the crossbar just before the break. Ollie Watkins also threatened but saw his snapshot denied by Di Gregorio in the Juventus goal.

Tension in Villa Park continued to rise as time went on - but so did disappointment. The hosts lacked an edge in the final third, which has been a persistent issue throughout this dip in form that now stretches to seven games.

Juventus posed little threat for most of the game but when they did, Francisco Conceicao was involved. The outstretched arm of Emiliano Martinez was the only thing that stopped the No 7 heading his side into the lead just after the hour mark.

Di Gregorio was called into action again to deny John McGinn from close range but ultimately the hosts did not do enough in the final third - and just about held on defensively.

Rogers thought he had snatched victory in the dying embers of the game but his celebrations were cut short - after a lengthy spell of confusion in the stadium - for a foul in the build-up. A decision which only compounded the misery for the home crowd.

Thoughts will now turn to how Emery and his coaching staff can address this worrying patch of form but the prospect of doing that away at Chelsea, live on Sky Sports, this weekend is a daunting one.

Watkins: Disallowing Rogers goal was soft

Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins speaking to TNT Sports:

"I thought it was soft.

"It had 0-0 written all over it, so it would have been lucky had we won it. Referees don't let things go in this competition as much in the Premier League. I have to be careful with what I say, but it's out of our control really."

Emery: In Europe, it could be a foul

Aston Villa boss Unai Emery speaking to TNT Sports:

"I'm very happy. We dominated the match. With the last action, it is the interpretation of the referee. In England, 80 per cent of those is given a goal and it not a foul. It's very soft.

"But in Europe, it could be a foul. We have to accept. We were closer than them to winning the match. They're very difficult to beat but we created a plan. There weren't many clear chances for either team.

"It was a tight match for both teams but I am happy with the overall picture in the Champions League. We still have the possibility of finishing in the top eight."