Youri Tielemans keeps Aston Villa in chase for Champions League place

LONDON – Aston Villa climbed back into the race to qualify for the Champions League, as Youri Tielemans sealed a crucial 1-0 win against Fulham on May 3.

Unai Emery’s side could not afford anything less than a victory at Villa Park as the battle for a top-five finish in the English Premier League approaches a dramatic climax.

Belgian midfielder Tielemans kept them in the hunt with a first-half winner that moved seventh-placed Villa level on 60 points with fifth-placed Chelsea and sixth-placed Nottingham Forest.

Villa have just three matches left, while Chelsea and Forest each have a game in hand.

“All our games, we know we have to win them to have a chance to be in the Champions League next season,” said Tielemans.

“It is the biggest European competition club-wise. We have had a taste this season and we want to do it again.

“This afternoon was a good win. A tough opponent, Fulham are a very good team. We could have finished the game earlier, but credit to the guys. Good fight and good win. To have a better goal difference for us is key towards the end now. We need to improve on that definitely.”

Manchester City’s win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on May 2 had increased the pressure on Villa to get a result against Marco Silva’s men and they rose to the challenge.

Villa produced a dismal display in their 3-0 defeat against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals last weekend.

But following their memorable run to the Champions League quarter-finals, Emery is desperate to lead his team back into Europe’s elite club competition next season.

Villa were without Marcus Rashford after he flew to Dubai to start his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury that is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season.

Ollie Watkins regained his place as Villa’s centre-forward in Rashford’s absence.

Watkins had admitted he was angry to be reduced to a substitute role in both legs of Villa’s Champions League quarter-final loss against Paris Saint-Germain.

He had an early chance to make his point to Emery, but could not keep his header on target.

There was no need for Villa to regret that miss as they took the lead in the 12th minute. John McGinn whipped over a corner and Tielemans rose highest to power a header beyond Bernd Leno.

Villa then appealed in vain for a penalty when Watkins tumbled after Antonee Robinson’s shoulder barge.

Raul Jimenez could not get the finishing touch on Sasa Lukic’s free kick as Fulham threatened for the first time. Jimenez went close again with a curler from distance just before the interval.

In the second half, Watkins miscued a golden opportunity from Matty Cash’s early ball. Ryan Sessegnon thought he had equalised for Fulham with a close-range effort but the video assistant referee intervened to disallow it for offside.

Harry Wilson lost his composure, frittering away a chance with just Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez to beat. Leno then denied Watkins with a smart save from the striker’s shot.

Villa were never comfortable, however, and Cash made a superb goal-line clearance to keep out Joachim Andersen’s close-range effort. Donyell Malen drilled against the crossbar in stoppage time, but Villa had done just enough to remain in the Champions League chase.

“A massive three points. It keeps us in the hunt for the Champions League spots,” said Villa captain McGinn.

“As you get older, you start to appreciate it a bit more. You want to achieve as much as possible. Last week was a huge setback (losing to Palace in the FA Cup), but we keep going.” AFP