Álex Moreno celebrated his return to Aston Villa with his inaugural goal for the club, securing a pivotal 2-1 triumph over Legia Warszawa and asserting control of UEFA Europa Conference League Group E while confirming progress to the knockout stages.
Making his season debut after recovering from injury, Moreno seized the opportune moment to score his first goal in claret and blue. Positioned at the far post, he met Douglas Luiz’s deep free-kick with a right-footed volley.
Moussa Diaby had earlier given Villa an early lead with his fourth goal of the season, but Ernest Muci, who scored twice in Legia’s 3-2 victory on matchday one, equalized midway through the first half.
The victory places Unai Emery’s team atop the group standings, three points ahead of second-placed Legia. With their place in the knockout stages already secured, a single point at HŠK Zrinjski on matchday six will guarantee Villa’s top spot.
Despite Leon Bailey’s late attempt to secure the necessary two-goal margin hitting the underside of the crossbar and bouncing away, the win extends Villa’s impressive form with nine victories in 11 matches across all competitions. They now head into Sunday’s Premier League clash against AFC Bournemouth in high spirits.
Moreno, returning as the fit-again left-back for his first appearance since May’s draw at Liverpool last season, featured in Villa’s starting lineup.
Head coach Emery made five changes from the 2-1 victory at Tottenham Hotspur, including Robin Olsen in goal and the return of Clément Lenglet, Youri Tielemans, and Jhon Durán to the XI. The dream start came as Diaby capitalized on Tielemans’ pass, cutting inside and curling an effort beyond Legia skipper Kacper Tobiasz after just four minutes.
Durán forced a one-hand save from Tobiasz shortly afterwards, but the visitors were level in the 20th minute as Muci capitalised on a defensive error at the back to curl into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area.
And in a first half of few clear-cut openings, that was the way it remained until the break as both sides went into the interval on level terms.
The second period started with chances at either end as Gil Dias sent a stooping header against the crossbar, while Diaby was denied by a super save from Tobiasz.
And it was the hosts who retook the lead just before the hour as Moreno arrived at the back post to convert Luiz’s free-kick with a well-taken right-footed volley.
Bailey and Jacob Ramsey were introduced just after 70 minutes and the latter went close to a third as he curled narrowly wide of the far post.
Bailey then went even closer in the closing stages as he saw his lofted attempt rebound off the underside of the crossbar, nevertheless, the Villans claimed an important victory and all three points.