EPL: Aston Villa Edges Burnley 2-1 in Thrilling Encounter

Malen's Brace helps Villa to 2-1 win over Burnley

Aston Villa moves up the table with a 2-1 win over Burnley, extending their winning streak to four games.
thanks to Donyell Malen's clinical finishing and Morgan Rogers' creative play.

Burnley struggled to threaten Aston Villa's goal, with their first notable chance coming in the 35th minute...

Aston Villa extended their winning streak to four games with a 2-1 victory over Burnley, securing their third consecutive league win in the fixture for the first time since 1900. Donyell Malen scored both of Villa's goals, with his first coming in the 25th minute after a brilliant pass from Boubacar Kamara, and his second in the 63rd minute after a precise pass from Morgan Rogers.

The match saw Villa dominate possession, with 55% of the ball, and creating more scoring opportunities, including 15 shots compared to Burnley's 5. Despite Burnley's struggles, they managed to pull one back through Lesley Ugochukwu's header in the 78th minute, but it wasn't enough to change the outcome of the game.

Aston Villa's early pressure didn't yield many open-play chances, but they created opportunities from set pieces. Donyell Malen's effort went off target, while Ezri Konsa's header was saved by Martin Dubravka.

The breakthrough finally came midway through the first half. Boubacar Kamara's simple yet effective pass split the Burnley defense, allowing Malen to slot the ball past Dubravka. The goal showcased Villa's attacking threat and capitalized on Burnley's defensive vulnerability.

📈 @AVFCOfficial make it back-to-back Premier League wins pic.twitter.com/PNRfXjNuga

— Premier League (@premierleague) October 5, 2025

Burnley struggled to threaten Aston Villa's goal, with their first notable chance coming in the 35th minute. Josh Cullen's half-volley tested Emiliano Martinez, who made a great save to tip the ball around the post. The rebounding corner almost paid off as Jaidon Anthony's cross-shot hit the crossbar.

Burnley struggled to tighten up defensively, leaving them vulnerable to Aston Villa's attacks. On the stroke of halftime, another simple pass split the defense, freeing Donyell Malen, but Maxime Esteve made a crucial block to deny Villa a second goal.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Villa dominating possession and creating scoring opportunities. Just 10 minutes into the restart, Villa's attack caused chaos in the Burnley defense, and Morgan Rogers was denied a goal by Martin Dubravka's athleticism, who saved the shot from point-blank range.

Aston Villa sealed the win with their second goal, courtesy of Donyell Malen's clinical finish. Morgan Rogers played a crucial role, finding Malen with a precise pass, who then arrowed a shot into the far corner, doubling his tally for the match.

Aston Villa continued to press for a third goal, with Matty Cash forcing a stunning save from Martin Dubravka just after the restart. However, Burnley suddenly found a way back into the game with a well-executed set piece. Quilindschy Hartman's corner found Lesley Ugochukwu unmarked, and his header slipped beneath Emiliano Martinez's grasp, making the score 2-1.

The goal gave Burnley a platform to build upon in the closing stages, but they were unable to capitalize on the momentum. Despite their efforts, they couldn't score again, extending their winless league run to five games.

Aston Villa, on the other hand, has finally turned a corner, with four consecutive wins under their belt. This impressive streak might be put to the test during the upcoming international break, which could feel like an inconvenient timing for the team.

Match Details

Scoreline: Aston Villa 2, Burnley 1

Goals:

• Aston Villa: Donyell Malen (25', 63')
• Burnley: Lesley Ugochukwu (78')

Attendance: 40,308 at Villa Park

Result: Aston Villa moves to 13th place with 9 points, while Burnley remains in the relegation zone with 4 points from 7 games

The win marks a significant turnaround for Aston Villa, which has now won four consecutive games across all competitions. Unai Emery's side had a slow start to the season but is showing signs of improvement, with players like Donyell Malen and Boubacar Kamara performing well.