Nicolas Jackson wastes no time in filling Villa’s Ollie Watkins-shaped void

0Nicolas Jackson celebrates scoring on a night when Aston Villa recorded their biggest win in European competition – PA/David DaviesUnai Emery had been intent on signing Nicolas Jackson ever since his arrival at Aston Villa and it is easy to understand why.

Jackson is proving invaluable to Emery on their reunion in the Midlands and is already paying back the record £65m transfer fee that made him their marquee summer signing from Chelsea.

There were many observers, admittedly away from Villa, who questioned the wisdom of selling England international Ollie Watkins to Al-Hilal in August, but Jackson has almost instantly ended that argument.

The Senegal forward has four goals in his last three games and was outstanding here as Villa maintained a flawless start to their Champions League campaign, recording their biggest win in European competition.

Emery knows exactly how to harness his talent. Villa’s Basque manager has pursued Jackson for years after the pair established a fine rapport at Villarreal.

While much of the focus before this game was on Mason Greenwood, making his first appearance in England in nearly five years, it was the forward in claret and blue who took centre stage.

Greenwood had a disappointing evening, with his Fenerbahce team failing to win for a ninth successive match in this competition.

Villa were simply too good for them on a multitude of levels, with another summer signing, Johan Manzambi, also excellent.

While Emery has established a reputation as the Europa League king, winning that trophy five times, he now looks determined to make an impression in Europe’s premier competition.

The midfielder said: “Today, I think that was very good. We scored six goals and no goals conceded. That’s very nice for us. For the fans, it’s amazing.

“I’m very, very happy. My first Champions League game, my first goal. My family was there. That was very nice for me. Amazing team, amazing fans. I’m very happy to be here.”

Villa record their first home win of the season in all competitions with a confident and convincing 6-0 victory over Fenerbahce. Jackson and Barkley both bagged braces, while Manzambi and Abraham also got onto the scoresheet. Emery’s side have back-to-back Champions League wins, claiming maximum points from their opening two games in the competition.

The two substitutes combine to devastating effect! It’s brilliant play from Alysson. The winger breezes past Brown on the outside and slides a low cross towards Abraham, who applies a simple tap-in from close range.

Fenerbahce have simply been unable to match Villa’s intensity and energy. Emery’s side are well worth their five-goal lead.

Aydin chops inside and whips a fierce effort at goal. The strike is straight at Suzuki, who tips the attempt over the bar.

Barkley lunges into a challenge and has pulled up. It’s such a shame for the Englishman. He can’t continue. Barkley is replaced by Goretska, who comes on for his Villa debut after joining the club from Bayern Munich in the summer.

Another double change for Villa. Jackson, who has scored twice, departs to a standing ovation. Mbaye is also withdrawn after an influential performance. Former Chelsea pair Abraham and Garnacho are on as the replacements.

Fenerbahce look like they could play all night and not find the net. There’s a break in play with Mbaye down and in need of treatment.

Emery orders a double change with this game done and dusted. Manzambi and Kamara depart for Brazilian duo Alysson and Joao Gomes.

Mbaye pulls the ball back to Barkley and the midfielder’s curling effort takes a massive deflection off Elmaz and fizzes into the bottom corner. Barkley has two goals in a matter of minutes and this has turned into an embarrassment for Fenerbahce.

Fenerbahce make a triple change as Lukaku, Nene and Elmaz replace Greenwood, Muriqi and Yuksek.

The Villa midfielder steps up and calmly sends Ederson the wrong way, placing a composed effort into the bottom left corner. The Holte End roars in delight. Villa are cruising.

Manzambi fools Yuksek with a delightful fake shot. The Fenerbache midfielder needlessly dives in and catches Manzambi. It’s a definite penalty. Barkley has the ball in his hands and will take it.

Villa are close a fourth after a fabulous break! Greenwood’s free kick is blocked by the home side’s wall and Villa spring forward on the counter through Jackson. The striker then plays a pass through to the onrushing Mbaye, who can’t quite lift his effort over Ederson.

Fenerbahce win two corners in quick succession, but neither delivery causes Villa a problem. The Turkish side thought they had a third corner, but VAR intervenes and rules that it’s a goal kick instead after the ball deflected off Skriniar.

Fenerbahce have really lacked conviction and attacking threat at Villa Park. They’ve got former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Lukaku waiting in the wings on the bench. You’d expect his introduction to be sooner rather than later.

Fenerbahce fail to adequately clear McGinn’s corner and the ball drops to Cash on the edge of the penalty area. The right back shoots from long range, but his effort deflects off Brown and shaves the side netting.

Mbaye has made a really positive start to his second half. He drifts around the outside of Semedo and drills a low effort at Ederson from a tight angle. The Fenerbahce goalkeeper protects his near post and diverts the strike out for a corner.

Semedo gives the ball away and Villa break through Mbaye. The 18-year-old unselfishly passes to McGinn, whose in a lot of space. The Villa captain takes the opportunity first-time, but curls an effort into Ederson’s arms. The Scotsman perhaps should have taken a touch, given how much time he had.

It would take an extraordinary fumble from Villa if they somehow let this lead slip. Fenerbahce need a miracle to get back into his game.

We are back under way for the second half at Villa Park. Both sides are unchanged at the break.

Manzambi’s opener and Jackson’s brilliantly dispatched brace mean that Villa have flown into a commanding three-goal lead over Fenerbahce at half-time in this Champions League encounter. The visitors can’t deal with Jackson and have been punished by his ruthless finishing. Manzambi has also looked very promising, but Jackson has undoubtedly been the standout performer so far.

There will be just one minute of added time as this first half draws to a close.

Guendouzi blatantly pulls Manzambi’s shirt as he attempts to dribble at Fenerbahce’s backline and picks up an obvious booking.

Jackson is on fire and already has a brace this evening! The forward plays a one-two with McGinn, before arrowing an intelligent finish through Ake’s legs and into the bottom corner. The 25-year-old has been unplayable in this first half so far.

Jackson has started this game excellently. In quick succession, he forces Ederson into a save with a rasping effort. In the next phase of play, he breezes away from Skriniar like he isn’t even there to reach the byline, but he can’t quite find Mbaye with a low cross.

Fenerbahce strike the bar! Ake picks out Kahveci with a pinpoint crossfield pass. The playmaker gets in behind Cash and Lindelof. Running in on goal from a tight angle, he slams an effort off the woodwork.

What a goal! Kamara bursts forward from midfield and plays in Jackson. The striker shifts the ball out of his feet, before slamming a powerful effort into the net. He hits it across the goalkeeper with so much conviction. It’s a devastating strike. Jackson looks full of confidence under Emery. Two of the summer signings now have goals this evening.

A patient passage of play from Villa ends with Jackson cutting inside before trying to place a curling effort into the far bottom corner, but he doesn’t get a clean connection on the strike.

The redevelopment of the North Stand at Villa Park means that the home support has been temporarily reduced by about 6000 fans. Nevertheless, the noise coming from the 1800 Fenerbahce supporters is pretty impressive and ensures the atmosphere is still electric.

A very happy birthday for Manzambi (so far)!

McGinn whips in a corner and Pau Torres wins the header. It’s a great leap, but he heads over the bar without forcing Ederson into action. The defender should have done better there.

It’s been a thoroughly entertaining and fast-paced opening 20 minutes. You really can’t take your eyes off this game. Both sides have looked dangerous going forward.

Fenerbahce craft an even better opportunity but fail to convert it! Muriqi makes a great run and is played in behind Villa’s defence. Suzuki rushes out to close down the one-on-one opportunity and the Villa goalkeeper makes a pivotal stop to block the striker’s sliding effort.

Fenerbahce come close to an equaliser! The away side take a page out of Villa’s book and play a short corner. A delivery is floated into the box, which Muriqi met at the back post. Suzuki covers his near post well to make the save and collect the rebound, but Villa’s defending was very questionable in that situation.

On his Champions League debut and 21st birthday, Manzambi has struck first for Villa! The hosts play another short corner, with McGinn swinging a cross into the box. Fenerbahce fail to clear it and the ball falls to Manzambi. The Villa man shoots and it takes a deflection off Skriniar before hitting the back of the net.

A spell of Fenerbahce possession has taken the early sting out of this game. We’re still waiting for either side to craft a notable chance.

The visitors want a penalty! Brown makes a darting, overlapping run on the outside of Cash as he attempts to latch onto a pass. The pairing challenge for the ball, with Brown tripping over. For a second, it looked like the referee was going to sound his whistle. However, on the replays, it seems that Cash got enough contact on the ball. A close call nonetheless.

Villa play a short corner and McGinn floats a cross into the box. Pau Torres meets the delivery at the back post, directing the ball back into the danger zone, but Barkley nods his header over.

McGinn picks up possession centrally, and on his weaker foot, he shoots from long range. The strike lacks conviction and it trickles out of play for a Fenerbahce goal-kick.

We are under way at Villa Park. Can the hosts make it back-to-back Champions League wins on their return to the competition or will Fenerbahce spoil the party?

Louder boos for Greenwood’s name from the Villa fans this time, when the teams were read out ahead of kick-off.

Villa Park is absolutely bouncing. The fans are certainly playing their part. Can those on the pitch match the crowd’s energy?

With just under 15 minutes until kick-off, here’s a recap of the two squads this evening.

AstonVilla: Suzuki, Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Wan-Bissaka, Kamara, Barkley, Mbaye, McGinn, Manzambi, Jackson.

Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Buendia, Garnacho, Abraham, Bogarde, Goretzka, Joao Gomes, Alysson.

Fenerbahce: Ederson, Nelson Semedo, Skriniar, Ake, Brown, Yuksek, Kahveci, Guendouzi, Greenwood, Muriqi, Aydin.

Subs: Tarik Cetin, Gunok, Akturkoglu, Lukaku, Demir, Oppong, Mercan, Elmaz, Dorgeles, Mimovic, Kante.

Greenwood’s name was greeted with some boos when it was read out, although the ground still isn’t even half full.

Mason Greenwood has just come out on to the Villa Park pitch with the rest of the Fenerbahce players to warm up. There are very few Villa fans inside the ground yet, so it’s hard to judge what type of reception he can expect when the match starts.

It was January earlier this year in the Europa League, with Aston Villa claiming a narrow 1-0 victory thanks to loanee Jadon Sancho’s first-half header. That win sealed Villa’s place in the last 16 of the competition, and we all know what happened after that… Unai Emery’s side ended their 44-year wait for European silverware and 30-year trophy drought by dispatching Freiburg 3-0 in the final in May.

Two of the best passers in these two teams are between the posts.

Former Manchester City star Ederson has already established a reputation for pinpoint precision and is Fenerbahce’s No 1.

In the Villa goal is their new cult hero, the £30m signing Zion Sukuki, and it will be an intriguing subplot here to see who comes out on top with their world-class distribution.

The last Champions League game at Villa Park will never be forgotten by those who witnessed it.

That was the night Villa came desperately close to knocking out eventual winners Paris St-Germain in the quarter-final second leg in April 2025.

Tonight, Villa faces Fenerbahce in front of their own supporters, but with one drastic difference.

The North Stand behind one of the goals is empty and under construction and, so far, it has made a big difference. Villa are yet to win in three matches and that empty stand is becoming the elephant in the room.

In his programme notes, Emery warned that his squad cannot “cry” over the circumstances. He wrote: “We must accept the sacrifice of being without the North Stand, but we understand that it is for the greater good.

“Because next season, and for many years to come, Villa Park will be a stadium with greater capacity and an even more extraordinary atmosphere.

“It is like when we have an injured important player: we must accept, not cry and everyone has to deliver their best to overcome this situation.”

AstonVilla: Suzuki, Cash, Lindelof, Torres, Wan-Bissaka, Kamara, Barkley, Mbaye, McGinn, Manzambi, Jackson.

Subs: Bizot, Wright, Mings, Buendia, Garnacho, Abraham, Bogarde, Goretzka, Joao Gomes, Alysson.

Fenerbahce: Ederson, Nelson Semedo, Skriniar, Ake, Brown, Yuksek, Kahveci, Guendouzi, Greenwood, Muriqi, Aydin.

Subs: Tarik Cetin, Gunok, Akturkoglu, Lukaku, Demir, Oppong, Mercan, Elmaz, Dorgeles, Mimovic, Kante.

Milan Skriniar captains the side and he’s partnered in defence by Nathan Ake. Ederson begins in goal, with former Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi, who played under Emery in North London, also starting. Romelu Lukaku and N’Golo Kante are on the bench.

Unai Emery has made four changes to the side that drew 2-2 Brentford last Saturday. Two arrive in defence, with Tyrone Mings and Matteo Ruggeri dropping out for Pau Torres and Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Emiliano Buendia is replaced and Ibrahim Mbaye is handed a start. Joao Gomes is also among the substitutes, with Ross Barkley getting the nod in the centre of the park.

Good evening and welcome to our live coverage of this Champions League match between Aston Villa and Fenerbahce in the Midlands.

Villa started their European campaign with a hard-fought 3-2 victory on September 8 away at Club Brugge – their first win in any competition this season after starting the Premier League campaign with two losses, a draw and no goals scored. In that triumph in Belgium, Unai Emery’s men opened their account for the season with three first-half strikes through John McGinn, Emiliano Buendia and Nicolas Jackson.

In his match preview, Emery said: “To play Champions League is a really huge challenge, and excited (for) the moment we can share in Villa Park, and in all the seasons, playing against the best teams in the world.

“So, reminding ourselves (of) 1982, when Aston Villa won this title. Reminding ourselves, two years ago, playing in Champions League, how much we enjoyed it, how much we competed in the highest level. And now it’s the same. I am very motivated, very excited. I want to share with the players my motivation. I want to share with our supporters our motivation.”

Fenerbahce are competing in their first Champions League campaign since the 2008/09 season, courtesy of a 3-2 aggregate victory over Lyon in the final round of the competition’s play-offs back in August. The Turkish club crowned their return to Europe’s premier tournament with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home to Roma last time out, thanks to Archie Brown’s second-half equaliser.

Ismail Kartal’s side also sit fourth in the Super Lig, three points behind first-place Galatasary, and have a number of former Premier League winners in their squad such as N’Golo Kante, Ederson and Nathan Ake. Other notable previous English top-flight players include Romelu Lukaku, Matteo Guendouzi, Marco Asenio and Nelson Semedo.

Kick-off is at 20:00, with team news coming shortly.

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