Jimoh-Aloba’s late winner seals Aston Villa comeback as Rangers fall in Porto

Aston Villa rally from two down as Jimoh-Aloba delivers late twist

Aston Villa’s night at Villa Park had the feel of a routine European outing for long spells, until it became anything but. Already qualified, Unai Emery rotated his side heavily and watched a below-par performance for an hour turn into a dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Red Bull Salzburg, sealed by a late winner from 19-year-old Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba.

Villa were staring at defeat after falling two goals behind, and the match also carried an unwelcome subplot: Ollie Watkins departed in the first half with a hamstring issue. Yet the home side found a way back, first through Morgan Rogers, then via Tyrone Mings’ redeeming header, before Jimoh-Aloba applied the finishing touch with three minutes remaining.

The decisive moment came when Kadan Young drove a low cross into the box. Jimoh-Aloba met it with composure, tucking the ball into the corner to complete a turnaround that had looked unlikely after a limp opening hour. The goal ensured Villa finished second in the 36-team table, a significant outcome even on a night when qualification was already secure.

Emery rotates, Salzburg impress early, and Watkins injury adds concern

Emery made six changes from the team that beat Newcastle on Sunday. Harvey Elliott was among those handed a start, although Watkins remained in the XI. The reshuffle did not immediately settle Villa, and Salzburg were the sharper side in the first half, playing with more cohesion and purpose.

The visitors took the lead on 33 minutes after a costly error. Mings gave the ball away, and Edmund Baidoo’s cross caused trouble. Karim Konaté diverted it over the line, with Victor Lindelöf unable to prevent the ball from crossing despite his best efforts. It was the type of goal that can deflate a rotated side, and it left Villa chasing the game.

Two minutes later, the situation worsened for the hosts. Watkins went off on 35 minutes, clutching his hamstring, and Rogers replaced him. Emery’s immediate post-match assessment suggested uncertainty rather than panic. “He felt something, but not a lot,” he said. “We will test him. I don’t know if he will be available for Sunday.”

At that point, Villa’s priority was simply to regain control of a match that was slipping away. Instead, Salzburg struck again shortly after the restart.

Salzburg double the lead, Villa’s response gathers pace

Four minutes after the break, Salzburg made it 2-0. Kerim Alajbegovic jinked his way to the byline and delivered a cross that Moussa Yeo converted at the near post with a classy flick. The finish was a reminder of the visitors’ confidence and quality on the night, and it left Villa with a steep climb.

For much of the first hour, Villa had struggled to match Salzburg’s intensity. But the response began to take shape through Rogers, who had been introduced early and brought directness and urgency. He reduced the deficit with a neat near-post finish after combining smartly with Emi Buendía, a goal that changed the mood inside Villa Park and gave the home side a foothold.

Villa’s equaliser followed, and it carried a note of personal redemption. Mings, whose earlier giveaway had helped Salzburg into the lead, atoned by heading Villa level from Matty Cash’s cross. The goal completed the shift in momentum, and suddenly Salzburg were the side trying to hold on.

With the match in the balance, Villa’s late pressure finally told. Jimoh-Aloba, still only 19, provided the defining moment, finishing Young’s low cross with three minutes remaining. It was a decisive contribution from a teenager in a match that had demanded character and composure from the home side.

Rangers’ campaign ends in Porto defeat despite early breakthrough

While Villa celebrated a comeback, Rangers’ European campaign ended on a disappointing note with a 3-1 loss at Porto. The match began brightly for the visitors, who went ahead after six minutes. Djeidi Gassama looped a header into the opposite corner from a right-wing cross delivered by Findlay Curtis, giving Rangers an early advantage and a platform to build from.

Porto, however, responded with authority. The hosts were level in the 27th minute through Rodrigo Mora, who finished a move he had started by firing past Jack Butland from close range. It was a goal that settled Porto and shifted the momentum away from Rangers.

Within eight minutes, Porto had turned the match around. A long ball led to a farcical mix-up between Butland and James Tavernier, and the loose situation ran into the path of Francisco Moura, who back-heeled the ball home. The nature of the goal underlined Rangers’ difficulties on the night: moments of promise undone by costly errors.

It became 3-1 soon after when Rangers’ Emmanuel Fernandez headed past his own goalkeeper from a Porto corner at the near post. From there, Porto were able to manage the game, and the result secured them a place in the last 16.

Rangers’ coach Danny Röhl acknowledged the shortcomings while pointing to signs of progress in approach and intent. “It’s still not good enough but to be on the front foot, try something in possession, counter-pressing … I’m so proud of the development,” he said.

Top-eight picture: Lyon lead the way, Midtjylland climb

Elsewhere in the Europa League, results across the schedule helped define the top eight and the teams pushing for advantageous positions. Lyon secured top spot after a 4-2 home triumph over PAOK, a high-scoring win that ensured they finished first overall.

Midtjylland moved up to third in the table after defeating Dinamo Zagreb 2-0. The victory strengthened their standing among the leading teams and added further clarity to the upper end of the rankings as the league phase concluded.

Betis gain an edge, Freiburg slip, Braga and Roma complete the top eight

Real Betis’ 2-1 win over Feyenoord proved particularly valuable in the context of the knockout bracket. The result secured Betis home advantage in the second leg of their last-16 tie, a detail that can matter in closely matched European contests.

Freiburg’s narrow loss at Lille had consequences too, dropping them to seventh. With fine margins separating several sides, even a tight defeat carried weight in the final ordering.

Braga and Roma completed the top eight after drawing away from home. Braga were held by Go Ahead Eagles, while Roma drew at Panathinaikos. Though neither side won on the road, the points were enough to secure their positions among the leading group.

Playoff line drama: Ludogorets sneak in as Young Boys miss out

The fight around the playoff places also produced a decisive swing. Young Boys’ 3-2 loss at Stuttgart meant they missed out on the playoffs, opening the door for Ludogorets. Ludogorets took advantage by defeating Nice 1-0 to sneak into contention at their expense.

Further down the table, Brann finished in 24th position despite losing 1-0 at Sturm Graz, a result that still left them in that final spot.

Other results: bottom-place finish confirmed and a run of draws

Several other fixtures rounded out the night’s schedule and final standings. Maccabi Tel Aviv finished bottom of the group after a 3-0 home defeat by Bologna. Malmö also ended winless, falling 2-1 at Genk.

There were draws in two other matches: Red Star Belgrade and Celta Vigo finished 1-1, and the same scoreline was recorded between FCSB and Fenerbahce. Viktoria Plzen, meanwhile, claimed a 1-0 away win at Basel.

What the night showed

The headlines belonged to a teenager and a comeback. For Aston Villa, Jimoh-Aloba’s winner offered a reminder of the depth Emery can call upon, even in a rotated side, while the Watkins injury remains a concern to be assessed. For Rangers, an early lead in Porto was not enough to prevent a defeat shaped by errors and a strong home response.

Across the competition, Lyon’s top finish, Midtjylland’s rise to third, and the final jostling for top-eight and playoff places underlined how quickly the picture can shift in the closing round. For some teams it was a night of confirmation; for others, a night when small moments had big consequences.

Match highlights and key outcomes

• Aston Villa came from 2-0 down to beat Red Bull Salzburg 3-2 at Villa Park.
• Jamaldeen Jimoh-Aloba scored the winner with three minutes remaining from Kadan Young’s low cross.
• Ollie Watkins went off in the first half clutching his hamstring; Morgan Rogers replaced him and later scored.
• Rangers lost 3-1 at Porto, who secured a place in the last 16.
• Lyon secured top spot with a 4-2 home win over PAOK; Midtjylland moved up to third with a 2-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb.
• Real Betis beat Feyenoord 2-1 to secure home advantage in the second leg of their last-16 tie.
• Ludogorets beat Nice 1-0 to sneak into the playoffs as Young Boys missed out after losing 3-2 at Stuttgart.