Colombian forward John Duran and Emery's clever moves

Manos Staramopoulos • 3 de octubre de 2024

Duran hit a stunning strike in the 79th minute to seal a remarkable victory over Bayern Munich at a packed Villa Park. Emery continues his impressive run in the Champions League after his side Aston Villa secured two wins from as many games.

Jhon Durán Aston Villa colombian forward and Unai Emery head coach spanish of The Villians.

Spain's Unai Emery continues his impressive run in the UEFA Champions League after his side Aston Villa secured two wins from as many games, a clear sign of their ambition in European football. For most of the match, both teams (Aston Villa-Bayern Munich) were evenly matched, but it was Duran's magic that sent Villa fans (including the likes of Prince William) into wild celebrations.


So Aston Villa saw a moment of sheer brilliance as Jhon Duran hit a stunning strike in the 79th minute to seal a remarkable victory over Bayern Munich at a packed Villa Park.


The Colombian frontman has made a habit of scoring when used as a substitute this season. With this goal being his 6th, four of which have already been achieved coming on as a substitute. Aston Villa billed this match as a symbolic rematch of their 1982 Champions Cup final triumph, demonstrating their growth on the European stage.


On this occasion, Duran replaced Ollie Watkins and showed his poaching instincts, latching on to an accurate ball from Pau Torres. He expertly slotted the ball over legendary Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from an impressive 30 yards, finding the back of an unguarded net.


Durán made his senior international debut for Colombia against Guatemala on 24 September 2022, replacing Radamel Falcao as a half-time substitute. On 28 March 2023, he scored his first international goal against Japan, on his first full appearance for the Colombian team.


Emery's brave decisions


Although an experienced campaigner in Europe, the Aston Villa boss showed immense bravery in making crucial selection choices. Leon Bailey had a lackluster performance in Villa's previous game but provided the assist for Watkins' goal. Despite Bailey's previous contributions, Emery opted to bring on Jaden Philogene for his first start since returning from Hull City, showing his intent and willingness to shake things up.


Jhon Jader Durán Palacio (born 13 December 2003) is a Colombian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Aston Villa and the Colombia national team.


Durán made his professional debut for Envigado on 13 February 2019 against Jaguares de Córdoba in the Copa Colombia, having played for the club at youth level since he was 11 years old.  Durán scored his debut goal on 1 September, in his third appearance for the club, against Águilas Doradas Rionegro.  This made Durán the second-youngest goalscorer in Categoría Primera A, at the age of 15 years and 8 months. In October 2020, Durán was included in The Guardian's "60 of the best young talents in world football" list.

 

Prince William present


Meanwhile, watching your team play in the Champions League is no small feat, especially after a four-decade wait. Prince William deserves credit for his unwavering support as a devoted Villan. His presence in every European tie last season only underlines his commitment, often sneaking around the ground incognito. His relationship with the team, having interacted with them at their training ground, underlines his genuine support.


The question now looms over how long Emery can keep Duran out of the starting line-up - as his brilliance could be too hard to ignore.


Kane and Watkins


The clash of England's top two strikers, Harry Kane and Ollie Watkins, was a tantalizing prospect, although both struggled to create meaningful chances.


Watkins created enough problems for his personal rival Dayot Upamecano but was unable to score. Kane, for his part, was effective in orchestrating Bayern's play, but too often missed opportunities. But his contribution to the team's overall performance was commendable.


Kompany's commitment to style


Vincent Kompany, new manager, remains steadfast in his specific philosophy, which successfully led to promotion. While his tactics have been effective in the Championship, the test against a more formidable opponent like Villa may raise questions about his approach. His understanding of the Premier League and keen awareness of Watkins' potential could have left Bayern vulnerable in the early stages, an oversight that could have been costly. The fact is that in the second game of the Champions League, Kompany and his team left defeated and the bosses in Munich will not be particularly pleased...


Manos Staramopoulos

Journalist and Analyst of International Football and Affairs

Chief Editor English Zone of Discoveryfootball.com

Athens (Greece)

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