Aston Villa vs Fulham

Aston Villa’s afternoon at Villa Park began with a jolt when Fulham stunned the home crowd inside three minutes. Raúl Jiménez, lurking in the box, leapt to meet a pinpoint cross and guided his header beyond Emiliano Martínez to silence the stands. The celebrations were short-lived, though, as the Mexican striker collided awkwardly with a teammate during the goal festivities and was forced off just minutes later, depriving Fulham of their focal point in attack. Villa, rocked by the early setback, initially struggled to find their rhythm as Fulham pressed high and disrupted passing lanes.

As the half wore on, Villa’s midfield trio gradually seized control of possession, with Douglas Luiz dictating tempo from deep. Their persistence paid off in the 38th minute when Ollie Watkins pounced on a defensive lapse, slotting home with precision to bring the game level. The goal completely shifted the momentum, energizing both the players and the crowd. Fulham’s shape began to fray as Aston Villa closed the half strongly, creating two more half-chances that narrowly missed the target.

Villa came out for the second half with renewed aggression and immediately put Fulham on the back foot. In the 50th minute, John McGinn delivered the breakthrough moment, curling a low effort from just outside the box past Bernd Leno to give Villa the lead. The noise inside Villa Park was deafening, and before Fulham could regroup, Emiliano Buendía – only just introduced from the bench – combined with Watkins on a swift counterattack to make it 3-1 just two minutes later. The quick double struck Fulham like a hammer blow, forcing them to chase the game.

Despite Fulham’s attempts to claw back into contention, Villa’s back line, marshalled by Pau Torres, held firm. Martínez made a crucial stop in the 72nd minute to deny Andreas Pereira, preserving the two-goal cushion. Fulham pushed bodies forward in the final quarter-hour, but Villa’s ability to break quickly on the counter meant the visitors could never commit fully without leaving themselves exposed. By the final whistle, the home side had not only turned the game around but also showcased their composure under pressure.

This result marked Villa’s first home league win of the season and provided a timely boost for Unai Emery, who had been under scrutiny after a slow start. Watkins’ contribution – a goal and an assist – underlined his growing importance to the side, while McGinn’s leadership in midfield was crucial in flipping the game’s momentum. For Fulham, the loss was a painful reminder of how quickly a promising start can unravel, particularly after losing Jiménez so early. Villa Park sent its team off with applause, sensing that this comeback could serve as a turning point for their campaign.

Watch and Download Aston Villa vs Fulham full match replay and highlights, At Sunday, September 28, 2025. The match played at Villa Park in Premier League, England.

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