Aston Villa 0 Juventus 0: Villa denied last gasp winner on controversial fashion

Juventus goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio came to claim a free-kick in the final seconds of stoppage time, dropped the ball and Morgan Rogers swept into an empty net.

The forward and Jhon Duran went to celebrate but then came confusion, a VAR check and finally, a decision, the effort chalked off for a foul by Diego Carlos on the goalkeeper.

In the end we were left with a goal-less draw which looked likely from the opening stages and Villa a point which may well be enough to guarantee their passage through to the Champions League play-off round of the competition at least. 

They are also well placed to challenge for a top-eight finish in the league phase of the competition, albeit they would have been even better positioned had Rogers’ late goal stood. The draw also extended their run without a win to seven matches, though this was arguably their best result of the sequence.

Prior to the late drama the story of the night looked like being Emi Martinez. Formally honoured for being named the best goalkeeper in the world prior to kick-off, the Argentina international then demonstrated just why he won the award with a stunning save to deny Francisco Conceicao midway through the second half.

In a game of few chances, Martinez’s save and a fine block from visiting captain Manuel Locatelli to keep out Villa captain minutes later stood out as the defining moments prior to stoppage time.

Otherwise, it was tough going for the neutral. Emery had claimed a draw would not be a bad result in Tuesday’s pre-match press conference and by the finish you sensed he was satisfied. 

At the same time, there was a sense of missed opportunity. Yes, this was Juventus and yes the prospect of playing them in the Champions League would have been a dream for Villa just a couple of years ago.

Yet the Italian giants arrived here down to the bare bones, their boss Thiago Motta travelling with a squad of just 17 players including three goalkeepers and naming the club’s youngest ever starting XI for a Champions League match. With no fit striker available, winger Timothy Weah was pressed into service up front.

The visitors certainly had no shortage of energy. Emery had spoken before kick-off of how good they were in possession and in the early stages they appeared eager to keep the ball all night.

Villa looked dangerous when they managed to get hold of it, Leon Bailey seeing a shot blocked after a swift break. Pau Torres also headed over from a corner.

An early focus of home fan ire was Spanish referee Gil Manzano, who booked both Youri Tielemans and Leon Bailey for what looked relatively minor infringements. When Andrea Cambiaso then crashed into Tielemans when breaking through the middle and Manzano signalled the advantage, Villa Park held its breath. No second card was forthcoming.

It took until the 37th minute for the first shot on target and it brought a decent save from Juve keeper Michele Di Gregorio, who pushed Ollie Watkins’ effort wide for a corner diving to his right. 

Villa had conceded in both their previous two matches to counter attacks from their own corners and the Italians broke here, Weah sending a shot over the bar from outside the box.

Emi Martinez, formally honoured for winning the Lev Yashin Trophy before kick-off, saved from Conceicao down to his left before Lucas Digne came closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock in the final seconds of the half, curling a free-kick off the top of the bar. 

Bailey was further off target with a free-kick from a similar position early in the second half but the possession stats were now equal, a sign of how Villa were getting more and more on top.

Yet midway through the half they were indebted to Martinez for keeping the scores level, as he produced a save befitting of his best in the world tag to deny Conceicao. The latter looked certain to score when Teun Koopomeiners’ delivery found him at the far post but Martinez dived low to scoop his header away. Replays showed the ball had been millimetres from crossing the line.

At the other end, Di Gregorio had not been tested since Watkins’ first half effort but he would have been beaten by McGinn’s low effort had Juve captain Manuel Locatelli not stuck out a foot to block when the keeper looked beaten.

There was little else of note before the last kick, as Villa were denied by the officials.

Villa (4-2-3-1): Martinez, Cash, Carlos, Torres, Digne, Kamara (Barkley 78), Tielemans, Bailey (Philogene 86), Rogers, McGinn, Watkins (Duran 78) Subs not used: Nedeljkovic, Bogarde, Maatsen, Konsa, Mings, Barkley, Buendia, Philogene, Duran, Olsen (gk), Gauci (gk).

Juventus (4-2-3-1): Di Gregorio, Savona (Danilo 66), Gatti, Kalulu, Cambiaso, Locatelli, Thuram (Fagioli 86), Conceicao, Koopmeiners, Yildiz (Mbangula 82), Weah Subs not used: Fagioli, Rouhi, Perin (gk), Pinsoglio (gk).