UEL: Go Ahead Eagles Stun Aston Villa with 2-1 Win in Europa League

Europa League upset, Go Ahead Eagles defeat Aston Villa

Go Ahead Eagles pull off a stunning 2-1 victory over Aston Villa in the Europa League, with Mats Deijl's clever chip and Mathis Suray's free-kick securing a famous win for the Dutch side.

The home team faced a challenge when Gerrit Nauber was substituted due to an injury...

Go Ahead Eagles, the Eredivisie outfit, pulled off a stunning upset in the UEFA Europa League, defeating English giants Aston Villa 2-1 in Deventer. This remarkable win marks a fairytale moment for the Dutch team.

In their latest European adventure, Go Ahead Eagles hosted Aston Villa, a formidable opponent, just weeks after securing their first-ever European win. Striker Milan Smit led the charge, earning his fifth consecutive start in place of the injured Victor Edvardsen. Aston Villa's lineup featured former Manchester United defender Victor Lindelof, who started in place of Matty Cash at right-back.

The match saw four Dutch players return to their home country, with Lamare Bogarde and Ian Maatsen starting for Aston Villa, while Donyell Malen and Marco Bizot remained on the bench. Despite being the underdogs, Go Ahead Eagles' determination and skill paid off, earning them a well-deserved victory.

The Eagles got off to a lively start, with centre-half Gerrit Nauber coming close to scoring just 90 seconds in, but his effort sailed narrowly over Emi Martinez's crossbar.

Aston Villa put an abrupt end to Go Ahead Eagles' energetic start when the home team's defense miscued a clearance, allowing Evann Guessand to tap in a rebound and give the Villains a 1-0 lead after Jadon Sancho's cross was poorly handled by goalkeeper Jari De Busser and Gerrit Nauber.

De Busser made crucial saves for Go Ahead Eagles, denying Sancho and Ollie Watkins in the opening 20 minutes.

What a result for Go Ahead Eagles 👏#UEL pic.twitter.com/FaaOorKi56

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) October 23, 2025

The home team faced a challenge when Gerrit Nauber was substituted due to an injury, forcing them to adjust their lineup. Calvin Twigt replaced the injured German defender.

Eagles Take Flight

De Busser was the hero again, denying Guessand a second goal with a spectacular one-on-one save, keeping the home side in the game despite Villa's dominance.

Just before halftime, Go Ahead Eagles caught a break when Belgian winger Mathis Suray scored a stunning goal from a free-kick, curling the ball into the top left corner and leaving Martinez with no chance. This came after the Eagles had suffered another blow, losing Danish starlet Jakob Breum to an apparent hamstring injury.

Go Ahead Eagles' right-back and captain, Mats Deijl, scored the decisive goal after a deep ball from Joris Kramer found him in Villa's box, where he skillfully chipped the ball past Martinez, beating two opponents in the process.

Aston Villa struggled to regain momentum after Deijl's goal and failed to create many scoring opportunities in the rainy conditions. However, they were handed a lifeline when the referee awarded a penalty kick due to a handball by Dean James. Emiliano Buendia took responsibility, but his penalty shot sailed over the bar, allowing Go Ahead Eagles to maintain their lead.

Aston Villa pushed hard in the final 10 minutes, but the Go Ahead Eagles' defense held strong despite the heavy rain.

Go Ahead Eagles celebrated a historic win, marking their second consecutive Europa League victory and their first home win in the competition.

Aston Villa dropped their first points of the European campaign but remain in the Europa League, with their next match against Maccabi Tel Aviv at home.

With this result, Go Ahead Eagles and Aston Villa are tied on six points each from three games. Go Ahead Eagles' next challenge will be against Red Bull Salzburg in Austria on November 6th.