Sancho fires Villa into Europa League last 16

Villa seal top-eight finish in Turkey

Aston Villa secured a top-eight finish in the Europa League after Jadon Sancho’s first-half header earned a gritty 1–0 win over Fenerbahce in Istanbul. The result confirmed Villa’s place in the round of 16 and ended the Turkish side’s unbeaten home record in the competition.

Sancho opened his account in Villa colours inside a hostile Sukru Saracoglu atmosphere, while stand-in goalkeeper Marco Bizot delivered a heroic performance to preserve the lead in a demanding second half.

Early intent from Villa

Villa started brightly despite a disrupted week caused by injuries. Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins combined early, with Watkins seeing a goal-bound effort blocked by Mert Müldür.

Former Villa players Jhon Durán and Marco Asensio linked up for the hosts, but Bizot was alert to gather Asensio’s effort from distance as Villa held their shape.

Sancho breaks the deadlock

The breakthrough arrived in the 25th minute. A flowing move down the right ended with Matty Cash swinging in a cross that deflected off Ismail Yüksek and landed perfectly for Sancho, who nodded past Éderson to silence the home crowd.

Villa nearly doubled their advantage before the break when Rogers fed Sancho, who danced past defenders before seeing his shot brilliantly blocked by Milan Skriniar.

Bizot stands tall after the break

Unai Emery’s side pushed for a second goal early in the second half. Tyrone Mings fired wide from close range before Emi Buendia rounded Éderson but failed to convert.

Fenerbahce increased the pressure and Bizot was called into action repeatedly. The French goalkeeper produced a stunning point-blank save to deny Talisca and later made a flurry of stops to keep out efforts from Akturkoglu and Yüksek.

Cash came close to sealing it with a long-range strike that beat Éderson but crashed back off the post.

VAR drama as Villa hold on

Villa thought they had wrapped up the win when Rogers bundled the ball home, but VAR ruled the goal out for offside against Sancho in the build-up.

Fenerbahce then had a dramatic equaliser chalked off themselves. Akturkoglu followed up a Bizot save, only for VAR to spot Durán offside earlier in the move.

Villa held firm through the closing stages to seal victory, ensuring their final group match against RB Salzburg will be a formality with qualification already secured.